DAMASCUS, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian army dug out 45 bodies of soldiers killed by the al-Qaida-linked militants near a key air base in the northwestern province of Idlib, local media reported Tuesday.
The bodies were uncovered near the Abu al-Duhur air base by Syrian troops in cooperation with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, the pan-Arab al-Mayadeen TV reported.
Most of those killed were either shot in the head or beheaded by the Levant Liberation Committee (LLC), also known as the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front, the report said.
More mass graves are expected to be found in the base and its surrounding area, the report added.
The ultra-radical militants captured the air base in 2015 when most of the killing of soldiers occurred. On Jan. 20, the Syrian army fully recaptured the base following intense battles with the militants.
Capturing Abu al-Duhur air base and the town with the same name enabled the Syrian army to lay a siege on the LLC militants in an area of 1,200 sq km.
Idlib has become home to several rebel groups from different affiliations, some of which are supported by Turkey, while others, such as the Nusra Front, are designated as terrorist groups.
