Syrian troops capture key rebel town despite Turkish warning

Syrian government troops have captured a key opposition town despite threats by Turkey's president to use force if they don't pull back by the end of the month. The town, Saraqeb, sits at the intersection of two major highways, one linking the Syrian capital of Damascus to the north region and another connecting the country' west and east areas. Syrian forces have been fighting to open the Damascus-Aleppo



highway, which rebels have kept shut down since 2012. Saraqeb is the last major rebel-held town in their way.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and an opposition news network said that Syrian government troops entered Saraqeb after an intense day of fighting, during which several Turkish observation posts were also surrounded.