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Syria conflict: Bombing 'kills 20' at Turkey border crossing | Syria conflict: Bombing 'kills 20' at Turkey border crossing |
(35 minutes later) | |
At least 20 people, most of them rebel fighters, have been killed and dozens injured in a bombing near Syria's border with Turkey, activists say. | At least 20 people, most of them rebel fighters, have been killed and dozens injured in a bombing near Syria's border with Turkey, activists say. |
The attack reportedly occurred during a change of guard at the rebel-controlled Atmeh crossing, in Idlib province. | The attack reportedly occurred during a change of guard at the rebel-controlled Atmeh crossing, in Idlib province. |
It was not immediately clear whether the blast was caused by a suicide bomber or a remote-controlled device. | It was not immediately clear whether the blast was caused by a suicide bomber or a remote-controlled device. |
A news agency linked to so-called Islamic State (IS) said a suicide car bombing had targeted a rebel convoy. | |
But a local journalist told Sky News Arabia it was likely that a bag filled with explosives had been planted at the scene because cars had not been allowed to enter the area before the blast. | |
Photographs and videos purportedly of the aftermath of the attack showed the bloodied bodies of more than 20 men, some of them wearing camouflage trousers. | |
Rebel fighters have been targeted by the jihadist group at the Atmeh crossing before. In mid-August, 32 were killed in a suicide attack claimed by IS. | Rebel fighters have been targeted by the jihadist group at the Atmeh crossing before. In mid-August, 32 were killed in a suicide attack claimed by IS. |
A witness told Reuters news agency that the head of the top civil judicial body in the rebel-held east of the nearby city of Aleppo, Sheikh Khaled al-Sayyed, and a judge who worked for him were among those killed on Thursday. | |
But most of the victims were members of the rebel Faylaq al-Sham group, the witnesses said. | |
It is participating in a Turkish-backed offensive against IS militants and Kurdish fighters along another stretch of border, about 60km (37 miles) to the north-east. | |
The rebels - assisted by Turkish warplanes, tanks and special forces personnel - are approaching the outskirts of the IS stronghold of Dabiq, just over a month after sweeping into the town of Jarablus. | The rebels - assisted by Turkish warplanes, tanks and special forces personnel - are approaching the outskirts of the IS stronghold of Dabiq, just over a month after sweeping into the town of Jarablus. |
Dabiq holds great symbolic value to jihadists as it is named in Islamic apocalyptic prophecies as the site of an end-of-times showdown between Muslims and their "Roman" enemies - a term IS has expanded to include the US and its allies. |