Syrian rebels declare airport a target

The Syrian rebels, who are in engaged in a conflict with President Bashar Assad, declared the Damascus International Airport a target. For the second time this week, the airport road has been forced to close.

Associated Press reports that the rebels intend to take the city of 1.7 million and the fear that this could be the most brutal battle rises as fighting continues on the outskirts

The AP adds that if the rebels were to take the airport, it would be a major loss to the Assad Regime. The rebels have issued warnings to those who intend to use the airport to travel.

The fighting has already resulted in the cancellation of many commercial flights, however the official reports claim that facility is still operational.

The government uses the airport for supplies from their allies and the rebels hope to cut off this support, notes The BBC.

A rebel has stated, "This would send a very strong political message to the regime, it will be a moral victory, to say the least...The battle to cut off the regime supplies from the airport has started."

The conflict with the rebels and government has been going on for the past 20 months and continues to intensify in violence.