Beirut:
Activists say some 150 rebels and government troops have been killed in fierce fighting for control of the international airport in the northern city of Aleppo and a major military air base nearby.
The director of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says that death toll is from fighting on Wednesday and Thursday is almost evenly divided between opposition fighters and regime soldiers.
The Observatory and the Local Coordination Committees activist group say rebels and President Bashar Assad's forces are shelling each other in renewed clashes today, in and around the airports.
Rebels launched a major attack on Aleppo's civilian airport and the nearby air base of Nairab on Wednesday.
They have captured most of the "Brigade 80" force that is in charge of protecting the area.