Middle East
Syrian rebels turn looted missiles on Assad’s aircraft
Syrian rebels are believed to have used surface-to-air missiles to down two government aircraft in less than 24 hours - the first time such weapons have been used in the 20-month insurrection. The downing of the aircraft is being hailed as a significant tactical advance in northern Syria, where fierce clashes between Assad regime forces and rebels over the summer have given way to several months of stalemate and rising despair on the opposition side.