IS attack on Syrian-Turkish border in Idlib leaves 29 dead

Birds fly near a Turkish tank coming from Syria during clashes between Turkish army and ISIS militants on September 4, 2016 at Elbeyli, in the southern region of Kilis. Ankara stepped up its fight against militants in Turkey and northern Syria with air strikes on Kurdish rebel positions in the restive southeast and IS extremists in northern Syria, security sources said on September 4, 2016.  / AFP / BULENT KILIC
Birds fly near a Turkish tank coming from Syria during clashes between Turkish army and ISIS militants on September 4, 2016 at Elbeyli, in the southern region of Kilis.
/ AFP / BULENT KILIC

At least 29 people, most of them rebel fighters, have been killed 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.

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 an opposition activist network, the Local Co-ordination Committees, reported that a suitcase filled with explosives had been planted at the scene.

In mid-August, 32 rebels were killed in a suicide attack claimed by IS at the Atmeh crossing, which they use to travel from Idlib, via Turkey, to battle the jihadist group in other parts of north-eastern Syria.

The LCC reported that 30 people had been killed and 40 others wounded in Thursday morning’s attack, while the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights put the death toll at 29.

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