Attacks kill dozens near Syrian town retaken from militants
BEIRUT — At least two attacks Friday near a Syrian town just recaptured by Turkish forces and Syrian opposition fighters from the Islamic State group killed more than 60, mostly civilians and including two Turkish soldiers, as the group retreats from one of its last remaining strongholds in northern Syria, Turkey’s news agency and Syrian activists said.
Most of those killed in Sousian were civilians who had gathered seeking permits and escorts to return to al-Bab, a day after it was liberated from the extremist group, a Syrian military commander in the city told the Associated Press.
The Turkish military earlier announced that its troops and allied Syrian opposition fighters are in full control of al-Bab but that efforts to clear it of mines and explosive devices are continuing.
The Turkey-backed operations have aimed to create a safe zone, deterring from its borders Islamic State militants as well as Kurdish rebels it sees as an extension of its own insurgent group.