Six Syrian regulars killed in first major clash with Turkey

At least six Syrian regime fighters were killed as heavy clashes broke out Tuesday between the army and Turkish forces for the first time since Ankara attacked northeastern Syria three weeks ago, a war monitor says.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says artillery and machine-gun fire was exchanged near Assadiya, south of the border town of Ras al-Ain.

Turkish soldiers at a position east of the northeastern Syrian town of Ras al-AIn watch as a tank fires on positions held by fighters from the Syrian Democratic Army (SDF) on October 28, 2019. (Nazeer Al-khatib / AFP)

“Turkish artillery fire killed five regime forces in battles on the edge of the village of Assadiya,” Rami Abdel Rahman, the head of the Observatory, tells AFP.

He adds that the pro-Ankara fighters being used by Turkey as the main ground force for the invasion executed a government soldier they had captured.

— AFP