At least 20 Syrian rebels killed in car bomb
October 14, 2016
Two witnesses told the news agency AFP that the blast took place about 2 km (1 mile) from the Bab al Salam checkpoint manned by a group of Free Syrian Army's (FSA) Jabhat al Shamiya and close to a car depot.
The location is a major conduit for traffic between northern Syria into Turkey close to the city of Azaz, a stronghold of Turkish-backed moderate Syrian rebel fighters in the northern Syrian province of Aleppo near the town of Azaz.
Turkish news outlet, Haber Turk, said the blast killed 30, as well as leaving dozens injured, adding that It had been carried out by so-called 'Islamic State.' At least six wounded people were reportedly delivered to hospitals in the nearby Turkish town of Kilis.
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 14 of the dead were rebel fighters and that dozens were injured, and said the death toll could rise.
IS has regularly targeted rebel factions with bomb attacks, including an October 6 attack at a border crossing in neighboring Idlib province that killed 29 rebels.
More than 300,000 people have been killed in Syria since the conflict began with anti-government protests in March 2011.
jbh/rc (Reuters, AFP)