The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 71 members of the Syrian government forces were shot dead in mass executions by al Qaeda's Syrian affiliate the Jabhat al-Nusra and other Islamist groups.

According to the observatory that is tracking the Syrian war, the mass killing took place a few days ago at Abu al-Duhur air base which was captured from the army earlier this month in northwestern Syria.

"Jabhat al- Nusra, the Turkestan Islamic Party and other Islamist factions executed at least 56 soldiers of the regime forces who were arrested in the airbase of Abo al- Dohur rising the number of soldiers who have been executed since seizing the airbase to 71," the observatory said.

All the soldiers who were in the airbase are dead, missing or captives.

When the air base fell to armed groups, Syrian state TV said the forces defending it had withdrawn after a two-year siege. It was the last position held by the Syrian military in Idlib province.

This airbase was considered the last position for the regime forces in the province of Idlib.

Source: MENA