Europe

Turkish soldier, 2 Syrian rebels killed fighting IS in Syria

Associated Press
Published | Updated

In this still image taken from video provided by the Syrian government-controlled Syrian Central Military Media, damaged buildings inside the Bustan Al-Basha neighborhood of Aleppo, Syria on Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2016. The footage shows extensive destruction to buildings in the neighborhood and a factory of hand-made bombs using home gas bottles as shells. (Syrian Central Military Media via AP) (The Associated Press)

Einar Bjorgo, UNOSAT manager, shows a satellite image of a destroyed road of a district in Aleppo, which was taken on Sept. 26, 2016 during a press conference at the European headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP) (The Associated Press)

In this still image taken from video provided by the Syrian government-controlled Syrian Central Military Media, government troops patrol inside the Bustan Al-Basha neighborhood of Aleppo, Syria on Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2016. The footage shows extensive destruction to buildings in the neighborhood and a factory of hand-made bombs using home gas bottles as shells. (Syrian Central Military Media via AP) (The Associated Press)

Turkish military officials say two Syrian opposition fighters and a Turkish soldier were killed in clashes with Islamic State militants in northern Syria. At least 18 IS fighters were also killed.

The officials said on Wednesday that the two rebels were killed in battles southwest of the town of al-Rai, during which the Turkish backed-opposition forces took control of four residential areas: Turkmen Bari, Kuaybah, Boztepe and Hardanah.

Separately, a Turkish soldier was killed and three others were slightly wounded in fighting in the opposition-held area of Ziyara, which a group of IS militants tried to infiltrate.

The Turkish military officials spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations.

Turkey sent troops and tanks into Syria in August to help Syrian rebels re-take IS strongholds near the border.