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The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the mass killing at
Abu al-Duhur air base happened a few days ago, citing sources on
the ground. The air base in Idlib province was captured by an
alliance of groups including the al Qaeda-linked Nusra Front on
Sept. 9.
"We confirmed it yesterday in the evening, via people who
witnessed it, and via some pictures that arrived - the execution
happened," Rami Abdulrahman, director of the Observatory, said,
speaking by telephone.
The Observatory said the executions were carried out by the
Nusra Front, the Turkistan Islamic Party, and other Islamist
groups. The Turkistan Islamic Party is one of the groups
fighting in northwestern Syria, where it has claimed a role in
several major insurgent advances this year.
When the air base fell to insurgents, Syrian state TV said the
forces defending it had withdrawn after a two-year siege. It was
the last position held by the Syrian military in Idlib province.
The Observatory said a total of 71 members of government forces
had been executed at Abu al-Duhur air base since its capture.
(Editing by Toby Chopra and David Evans)
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