Bombing Claimed By Islamic State Kills 20 At Turkey-Syria Border

A Syrian soldier displays a captured Islamic State flag (file photo)

Reports say a bomb attack claimed by the Islamic State extremist group (IS) near Syria's border with Turkey has killed at least 20 people, most of them rebel fighters.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the attack took place on October 6 at the Atmeh crossing, in Idlib Province, and targeted rebels from Turkey-backed factions that have been battling the IS group.

The IS-run Amaq news agency said a suicide bomber targeted a rebel convoy.

Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus described the attack as a "crime against humanity."

In mid-August, more than 30 rebels were killed in a suicide attack claimed by IS militants at the same border crossing.

Rebel factions are currently battling IS militants with Turkish military support in another border region further to the northeast.

Based on reporting by AP and Reuters