A rebel force of mostly Islamist fighters overran the largest military air base in northern Syria on Friday, January 11, striking a decisive blow against the government of President Bashar Assad and demonstrating the rising strength of religious extremists within the Syrian opposition, The Washington Post reported. Among the fighters who participated in the 10-day battle to take Taftanaz base in Idlib province was the al-Nusra Front, a militant group that is thought to have links to al-Qaeda and has been designated a foreign terrorist organization by the United States government. Taking control of the Taftanaz air base may be the biggest strategic victory yet for rebel fighters. Rebels have demonstrated a greater degree of coordination and skill on the battlefield in recent months, taking over more than half a dozen military bases since the beginning of December and expanding their arsenal with confiscated weapons.