22 Assad regime soldiers killed by FSA near Syria's al-Bab
Assad regime units and allied militiamen hold a position at an undisclosed location in western Syria. (AFP File Photo)


At least 22 Syrian troops were killed in a clash with Free Syrian Army (FSA) forces in Tadif town near the city of al-Bab, opposition fighters said late Sunday.

The clashes, announced on social media by Havar Kilis Operation Room representing FSA, comes days after the Turkish military declared that al-Bab had been seized by Ankara-backed FSA forces last Friday as part of the Operation Euphrates Shield.

Daesh terrorists then reportedly withdrew to Tadif, south of al-Bab, and promptly left the town to forces loyal to Bashar al-Assad without a fight.

Operation Euphrates Shield aims to provide security, support U.S.-led coalition forces and eliminate the terrorist presence along Syria's northern border with Turkey.

Turkey launched Operation Euphrates Shield On Aug. 24, 2016 declaring that is was exercising its rights of self-defense codified under the U.N. Charter Article 51.