Al-Qaida-linked groups seized a Syrian military base in southern Syria on Sunday, a monitoring group reported.

The al-Nusra Front militants and likeminded groups succeeded to capture the Brigade 82 base near the contested town of Sheikh Miskin in the countryside of the southern province of Daraa, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported.

The capture of the base came after intense clashes between an array of jihadist groups and the Syrian troops, the Observatory said, adding that the intense clashes resulted in the killing of around 40 fighters from both sides.

Meanwhile, the Syrian air force carried out around eight airstrikes against the rebel positions in the Sheikh Miskin town, the Observatory said, stopping short of giving further details.

The Nusra fighters have recently focused their attacks against the government troops' positions in Sheikh Miskin, due to the town's strategic location in southern Syria.

Separately, the so-called Islam Army rebel group rained down the capital Damascus with around 40 mortar shells on Sunday, delivering on the promises of its leader, Zahran Alloush, who threatened last week that he would shower the capital with rockets in retaliation to the government troops' shelling of rebel-held areas around the capital.

The Observatory said at least four people were killed and dozens more wounded by the Sunday mortar attack. Endit

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