Syrian activists say rebels have captured large parts of a military base in the strategic central Homs province, near the border with Lebanon.

The Britain-based Observatory for Human Rights said on Thursday that opposition fighters now control most of the Dabaa military complex after weeks of fighting with government forces for control of the facility.

The base is located near Qusair, a contested Syrian town near a key highway between Damascus and the coast.

Dabaa is a former air force base and includes an airfield, which hasn't been used in the two-year conflict. The army has based ground troops in the facility to fight rebels trying to topple President Bashar Assad's regime.

More than 70,000 people have been killed since the revolt in Syria started in March 2011.