( CNN ) -- A Syrian Cabinet minister confirmed the death of his rebel son , and , without a trace of grief , coldly rejected the young man 's embrace of the opposition , according to a state news report . `` I disapprove and condemn whatever my son did , '' said Mohammad Turki al-Sayyed , minister of state for the People 's Assembly Affairs , who acknowledged the death of his son , Bassim . `` I said it before and I disavow him again , fully even after his death . '' Al-Sayyed 's statement , reported by the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency , illustrates the collapse of Syrian family stability during the 22-month old conflict , now a full-blown civil war . The United Nations says more than 60,000 people have died in the carnage , which shows no signs of stopping . As for Bassim al-Sayyed , one activist wrote on his Facebook page that he joined demonstrators at the start of the uprising in 2011 . He later joined the Free Syrian Army and was killed in the fighting . Mourners at his December 30 funeral shouted his praises and chanted `` God is mightier than any tyrant , '' according to videos posted on an opposition Facebook page . The videos said Bassim was killed in a battle for the police institute of Sarmada , a northern city , `` fighting the government forces of his father , the minister . '' `` We will never kneel down , never surrender , '' one man chanted . But the minister said Bassim `` joined the ranks of the terrorists who wanted to tear down the country '' because he was `` brainwashed by Syria 's enemies . '' He repeated his assertion that media outlets and entities across the globe are plotting against President Bashar al-Assad 's government . `` The homeland is above everyone and when it comes to Syria , all the titles , relations and even the personal emotions mean nothing when it comes to the nation , '' Mohammad Turki al-Sayyed said . `` When it comes to choosing between terrorism and the homeland , the minister always chose the homeland and disavowing himself from everyone who wants to stir evil in the nation even if it was his own son . '' Unrest at rain-soaked refugee camp . Across the border in Jordan , Syrian refugees at a camp became restive as heavy rains pounded their living quarters and created havoc . Some reports said there were riots at the Zaatari camp . U.N. senior field coordinator Marin Kajdomcaj would n't say it was a riot , but he confirmed an `` expression of discontent . '' Water , sand and dust have seeped into the tents , and camp residents need supplies , such as blankets and medicine . `` We have been moving refugees from tents to prefabricated homes , '' Kajdomcaj said of the 45,000-strong camp . `` It is a situation where large numbers of refugees are coming every night to Zaatari . Last night we had 1,000 plus . There is a pressure of new arrivals coupled with limited resources . We have to quickly find a solution . It is not an easy situation . It is a very delicate situation burdened by the weather , '' he said . UNICEF last week issued a report about the impact of winter on children at the refugee camps . An article about Zaatari said , `` the cold is making life increasingly miserable . '' It cited health problems such as diarrhea and dehydration , a lack of hot water for bathing , and a need for winter clothes , blankets and better food . The number of Syrians registered or awaiting registration as refugees in Iraq , Jordan , Lebanon , Turkey and Egypt has surpassed 540,000 , about half of them children , the United Nations said . The number could exceed one million later this year , the agency said . SANA reported rain in most Syrian provinces and said snow covered mountain peaks . Battle for air base . In the Taftanaz area of northern Syria , a fierce battle for a key Syrian air base is heating up , dissidents say , as rebels reportedly downed a government helicopter . Rebels `` shot down a regime chopper above Taftanaz military airport , and explosions can be heard from inside the base , '' the Local Coordination Committees of Syria said . Another opposition group , the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights , said the chopper was shot down over a village near Taftanaz . CNN can not independently confirm the claims . For months , rebels have tried to gain control of the air base in Syria 's northwestern Idlib province . Al-Nusra Front , a militant group that the United States has designated as a terrorist movement , is among three rebel factions attacking the base , rebels said in a statement . The number of people slain in Syria on Tuesday stood at 124 , including 47 in Idlib and 35 in Damascus and its suburbs , the LCC said .
NEW : More than 120 deaths reported Tuesday by the opposition . The Syrian minister said his late rebel son was `` brainwashed '' Heavy rains bring discontent to Syrian refugees . Battle for Taftanaz base is heating up .