Rebels overran Friday morning Taftanaz airbase, the largest in northern Syria, after several days of fierce combat, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

"The fighting at Taftanaz military airport ended at 11:00 am (0900 GMT) and the base is entirely in rebel hands," said Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman.

"Many regime forces have been killed and most of the soldiers and officers fled at dawn," he told AFP by phone.