Oct 3, 2016

At least 21 Syrian rebels fighting alongside Turkish troops in northern Syria against the Islamic State group were killed Sunday by landmines laid by the jihadist group, a monitor said Monday.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the toll was the highest loss of life for forces involved in the Turkish-led operation in northern Syria since it began in late August.

The Britain-based monitor said 21 rebels were killed and dozens more wounded, many seriously, while attempting to secure the village of Turkman Barah, near the flashpoint IS-held town of Dabiq in Aleppo province.

Turkish troops were not mentioned among the casualties.

IS withdrew from the village on Sunday but heavily mined the area before it left, Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman said.