Beirut, Dhu-AlHijjah 18, 1433, Nov 3, 2012, SPA - Opposing fighters started Saturday a wide-scale offensive on a military air base in Syria's northern province of Idlib, a day after troops retreated from the nearby strategic town of Saraqeb, activists said. "Fierce clashes are raging near Taftanaz military airport, after the Opposing fighters attempted to storm the facility from different axes using rocket propelled grenades and mortar shells," the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. "The facility is responsible for launching most airstrikes on northern provinces," Abu Omar al-Homsi, a commander of the Opposing fighters in Aleppo, told dpa. "The Opposing fighters are also trying to cut roads leading to the area to stop any reinforcements from reaching the regime forces." --SPA 13:13 LOCAL TIME 10:13 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/1045118