UN says 66,000 displaced in 5 months of north Syria fighting

UN says 66,000 displaced in 5 months of north Syria fighting (The Associated Press)

FILE - In this Thursday, March 2, 2017 file photo, a Turkish army soldier mans an outpost near the town of Kilis, southeastern Turkey, adjacent to the wall the country had been constructing to boost security along its border with conflict-stricken Syria. A U.N. humanitarian agency said Sunday, March 5, 2017, that some 66,000 people have been displaced in five months of fighting in Syria's crowded northern battlefield. Turkish, Syrian government, Syrian opposition, and autonomous Kurdish-led forces have all been jostling for territory formerly held by the Islamic State group near the Turkish-Syrian frontier, as preparations are being made to attack the extremists' de facto capital, Raqqa. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis, File) (The Associated Press)

BEIRUT – A U.N. humanitarian agency says some 66,000 people have been displaced in five months of fighting in Syria's crowded northern battlefield.

Turkish, Syrian government, Syrian opposition, and autonomous Kurdish-led forces have all been jostling for territory formerly held by the Islamic State group near the Turkish-Syrian frontier, as preparations are being made to attack the extremists' de facto capital, Raqqa.

The U.N.'s OCHA agency said Sunday that the Turkish and Syrian opposition campaign to capture al-Bab from IS militants displaced 40,000 residents. They captured the town on Feb. 23, after starting operations in November.

The office said another 26,000 residents have been displaced in fighting around Manbij, held by Kurdish-led forces, and al-Khafseh, held by IS militants. Al-Khafseh is home to the main water station for Aleppo, Syria's largest city.