making gains in Syria

The New York Times has a front page article today in which the author claims that the Free Syrian Army gangs are making gains.  The entire article is based on unsubstantiated claims of the Free Syrian Army gangs themselves:  "“We are facing aircraft and shooting down aircraft with captured weapons,” said Jamal Marouf, a commander credited by the fighters with downing the first MIG-21 here. “With these weapons we are preventing aircraft from landing or taking off.”"