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Rocket attack in Syria kills 15 people in town held by Turkey-backed fighters

A ROCKET attack on a crowded market in a northern Syrian town held by Turkey-backed fighters today killed 15 people and wounded dozens, according to war monitoring groups.

The attack on the town of al-Bab in the Aleppo region came days after a Turkish air strike killed at least 11 Syrian troops and Kurdish fighters.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights blamed Syrian government forces for the shelling on Friday, saying that it was in retaliation for the Turkish air strike.

It said that the deaths included three children and more than 30 were wounded.

The death count was confirmed by the Syrian Civil Defence, and also opposition group White Helmets, whose members evacuated some of the wounded and dead.

In a statement, the Syrian Democratic Forces said that its fighters were not responsible for the shelling.

“Our operations are directed against the Turkish occupying army and its mercenaries and are announced to the public opinion through statements and footage,” the statement said.

“We believe that these strikes targeting al-Bab city were conducted by the parties who have been trying to prevent the people in the occupied areas from expressing their rage regarding the recent statements of the Turkish foreign minister.”

Activists in al-Bab had been planning a protest after Muslim midday prayers today to denounce comments by Turkey calling for reconciliation between the Syrian government and the opposition.

The protest was cancelled over fears of further violence.

Turkey has launched three major cross-border operations into Syria since 2016 and controls some territories in the north.

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