Syrian troops, rebels clash in contested north

BEIRUT (AP) ? Syrian activists say troops loyal to President Bashar Assad are battling rebels in the country's heavily contested north along the border with Turkey.

The Britain-based Observatory for Human Rights activist group says Wednesday's fighting is concentrated on areas around the city of Aleppo, Syria's largest urban center, and the northern Idlib province.

The fighting comes after opposition fighters' scored several strategic victories in the area against the regime in Damascus, capturing a military air base in the province of Aleppo on Tuesday and the country's largest dam on Euphrates River the day before.

Rebels control large parts of land they captured during 22 months of fighting in Syria's civil war, which the United Nations says has claimed nearly 70,000 lives.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/syrian-troops-rebels-clash-contested-north-103658369.html

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