Reports: Syrian forces break ISIS siege on military airport

(CNN)It may be more symbolic than anything, but the Syrian army has broken a two-year ISIS siege on the Kwairis military airport near Aleppo, which had been surrounded by the terror group since 2013.

Government forces killed "hundreds of ISIS terrorists and destroyed their dens and cells with all weapons inside," Syria's state news agency SANA reported. A major troop buildup has been in the works in the area since last month.

"The regime has been fighting since the end of September to break the siege," said Rami Abdurrahman, the head of London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. "Taking this airport back from siege means they can advance to ISIS areas. They can use it to shell areas around Aleppo."The Syrian military has been backed by Russian air power in recent weeks.

Aleppo is one of three areas the Russians seem to be focusing on. The others are the northern province of Idlib and in Hama province, near the coast.

Iranian and Hezbollah militia are also coordinating with Syrian forces to take advantage of the air strikes in a bid to regain territory from ISIS and opposition groups.

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