BEIRUT: Syrian insurgent groups attacked a major Syrian army base in the south of the country Tuesday, rebels said, seeking to increase the pressure on President Bashar al-Assad after his recent losses elsewhere in the country.

"It is very important because it is the second biggest base the regime has [n the south]," Saber Safar, a former Syrian army colonel who defected and leads the "First Army" insurgent alliance, said via Skype.

Syrian state TV said the army had repelled an attempt by "a terrorist group" to infiltrate a military position in the area to the northeast of the city of Deraa in the border region near Jordan.