20 Syrian soldiers killed in Latakia - activists

PanARMENIAN.Net - Syrian activists say at least 20 soldiers have been killed in fierce clashes with rebels in the north-western province of Latakia, BBC News reported.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the fighting took place in a region known as Jabal al-Akrad near the Turkish border.

The report cannot be independently verified.

Latakia has seen an upsurge in fighting and UN observers say they have been denied access to some areas.

The UN observer mission last week suspended its operations amid worsening violence.

Syrian Observatory for Human Rights head Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP news agency that most of the soldiers had died in direct fighting with rebel forces in Jabal al-Akrad, which means Kurdish Mountain.

Another activist group, the Local Co-ordination Committees (LCC), reported intensified artillery and mortar fire aimed at villages in Jabal al-Akrad, and at the towns of Abo Risha and Tardeen in Latakia.

The Observatory said that, in total, 28 soldiers and a Shia Muslim cleric were among 39 people killed in violence across Syria on Wednesday

Another activist group, the Local Co-ordination Committees (LCC), reported intensified artillery and mortar fire aimed at villages in Jabal al-Akrad, and at the towns of Abo Risha and Tardeen in Latakia.

The Observatory said that, in total, 28 soldiers and a Shia Muslim cleric were among 39 people killed in violence across Syria on Wednesday, June 20.