Syria air defence head killed, rebels take **rthern town
 

* Ishaq killed as Assad expands control around Damascus * Mleiha, scene of heavy fighting, lies on airport road * Rebels seize town in Hama province, kill 34 - monitor (Adds fighting in Hama province) BEIRUT, May 18 (Reuters) - Syria's air defence chief was killed during an offensive by President Bashar al-Assad's forces against rebels east of Damascus, Islamist rebels and a monitoring group said. They said General Hussein Ishaq died on Sunday from wounds suffered on Saturday during the assault by Assad's forces on the town of Mleiha which appears aimed at expanding the president's control around the capital before a June 3 election.

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