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Syrian army, opposition fighting to seize control of border crossing points

20 July 2012 18:50 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Clashes between the Syrian army and the opposition Free Syrian Army were continuing at the six gates on the Syrian side of Turkish-Syrian border by Friday afternoon, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

Bab al-Hawa and Nusaybin were two of those crossings, said the diplomat, who asked not to be named, adding the clashes between the Syrian army and the opposition Free Syrian Army were continuing for the fourth border gate.

The opposition Free Syrian Army stepped up fight to seize the control of crossings along the Turkey-Syria border late Thursday, the diplomat said.

One Syrian brigadier-general, four colonels and 17 lower ranking officers fled to Turkey since July 19, the diplomat added.

Commander of the Second Army of the Turkish Armed Forces General Servet Yoruklu visited troops in Karkamis village near Syrian border on Friday, according to semi-official Anatolia News Agency.

Turkish Prime Ministry Disaster and Emergency Management Directorate (AFAD) said in a statement on Friday that there were 43,387 Syrian refugees currently staying in Turkey after fleeing clashes in their country.