Report: 27 Syria regime fighters killed in surprise attack near Latakia

At least 27 Syrian regime forces and pro-government fighters have been killed in a surprise attack by opposition factions in the western province of Latakia; the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said yesterday.

The surprise attack was launched late on Monday against a village and observation posts controlled by the regime forces in Latakia near the border with Turkey.

“At least 27 regime forces and loyal fighters were killed in violent clashes and artillery shelling on the village of Atira,” the head of the observatory Rami Abdul Rahman said.

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According to Abdul Rahman, the rebels and Islamist fighters forced the regime forces out of the observation posts during the attack during which another 40 regime fighters  were wounded.

Six opposition fighters were also killed in the clashes.

In response to the attack, the Syrian regime warplanes launched raids against opposition positions in the area yesterday.

Latakia is one of the de-escalation zones in Syria under an agreement reached during Astana talks sponsored by Russia, Turkey and Iran.

According to the observatory, the latest faction attack is the deadliest in the region in three years.