Dozens killed in car bomb attack on Syrian rebels

At least 20 people were killed in a car bomb blast at an opposition checkpoint in the northern Syrian province of Aleppo on Thursday, local sources said.

The blast hit near the town of Azaz, close to the border with Turkey, local activist Mohammad al-Halabi told The New Arab, adding that rebels manning the checkpoint and civilians waiting to get through were killed.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 14 of the dead were rebels.

The attack also injured dozens and the monitor said the toll could rise further because of the number of people with serious wounds.

The checkpoint was run by the Shamiya Front rebel group, which is active in Aleppo province, and was on the road to the Bab al-Salama crossing.

“The blast caused huge devastation, and most of the injured were taken across the border to the nearby Turkish hospitals,” Mohammad al-Halabi added.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, which al-Halabi believes bares the hallmarks of the Islamic State group.

IS has regularly targeted rebel factions with bomb attacks, including an October 6 attack at a border crossing in neighbouring Idlib province that killed 29 rebels.

More than 300,000 people have been killed in Syria since the conflict began with anti-government protests in March 2011.