Syrian flag. (Creative Commons)

The Associated Press reported Taftanaz is the largest base yet for the opposition to secure, previously used by the military in strikes and for supply deliveries to government troops.

Rebels had also targeted two air bases in nearby Aleppo, struggling to capture the sites since last week in addition to a third called Kweires.

Meanwhile, U.N. envoy Lakhdar Brahimi seemed even less optimistic about the potential for a peaceful solution to the country's civil war after a meeting Friday with Russian and U.S. diplomats.

"We all stressed the need for a speedy end to the bloodshot, to the destruction and all forms of violence in Syria," Brahimi told reporters. "But if you are asking me whether a solution is around the corner, I'm not sure that is the case." 

Read the full story here, and more of Neon Tommy's Syria coverage here.

Reach Executive Producer Catherine Green here. Follow her here.