Rebels capture security posts in northern Syria

Two Syrian boys, both of whom fled with their families from the violence in their village, look on Nov. 8, 2012, as one holds a gun toy at a displacement camp in the Syrian village of Atmeh, near the Turkish border. (Associated Press)
A Syrian family who fled from the violence in their village sits next to their belongings Nov. 7, 2012, at a displacement camp in the Syrian village of Atma, near the Turkish border. (Associated Press)
Panos Moumtzis, the U.N. refugee agency regional coordinator, speaks during a Nov. 9, 2012, news conference at the headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva. (Associated Press)
Merchants remove their wares Nov. 6, 2012, from the souk in the Old City of Aleppo, Syria. (Associated Press)
A Syrian boy who fled with his family from the violence in their village waits his turn Nov. 8, 2012, to fill water at a displacement camp, in the Syrian village of Atmeh, near the Turkish border. (Associated Press)
A Syrian family who fled from the violence in their village sit on the ground at a displacement camp in the Syrian village of Atmeh, near the Turkish border. (Associated Press)
A Syrian woman who fled from the violence in her village carries a water bucket on her head Nov. 7, 2012, at a displacement camp in the Syrian village of Atma, near the Turkish border. (Associated Press)
A Syrian family, who fled their home due to government shelling, takes refuge Sept. 13, 2012, at Bab Al-Salameh crossing border, hoping to cross to one of the refugee camps in Turkey, near the Syrian town of Azaz. (Associated Press)
Amina Al Sado, 5, who fled with her family from the violence in their village, poses Nov. 7, 2012, for a photograph inside a tent at a displacement camp in the Syrian village of Atmeh, near the Turkish border. (Associated Press)
A Syrian family who fled from the violence in their village sits Nov. 5, 2012, in a tent at a displacement camp in the Syrian village of Atmeh, near the Turkish border. (Associated Press)
Syrian families who fled from the violence in their villages sit Nov. 8, 2012, next to their belongings at a displacement camp in the Syrian village of Atmeh, near the Turkish border. (Associated Press)
A Syrian man who fled from the violence in his village sits Nov. 8, 2012, for a haircut next to his tent at a camp in the Syrian village of Atmeh, near the Turkish border. (Associated Press)

By Bassem Mroue - Associated Press - Friday, November 9, 2012

BEIRUT — Activists say Syrian rebels have killed more than 20 soldiers and captured three security compounds in a northern town near the border with Turkey.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says the capture of the compounds and the deaths on Friday came during intense clashes in the town of Ras al-Ayn near the border with Turkey.

The Observatory said the captured compounds belonged to the Military Intelligence, Air Force Intelligence and General Intelligence Directorate. They are the most powerful security agencies in the country.

The Local Coordination Committees, another activist group, said regime forces are sending tanks to the town to help in the fight.

The heavy clashes in the town started Thursday afternoon forcing thousands of people to flee across the border to Turkey for safety.

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Rebels capture security posts in northern Syria

Two Syrian boys, both of whom fled with their families from the violence in their village, look on Nov. 8, 2012, as one holds a gun toy at a displacement camp in the Syrian village of Atmeh, near the Turkish border. (Associated Press)

A Syrian family who fled from the violence in their village sits next to their belongings Nov. 7, 2012, at a displacement camp in the Syrian village of Atma, near the Turkish border. (Associated Press)

Panos Moumtzis, the U.N. refugee agency regional coordinator, speaks during a Nov. 9, 2012, news conference at the headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva. (Associated Press)

Merchants remove their wares Nov. 6, 2012, from the souk in the Old City of Aleppo, Syria. (Associated Press)

A Syrian boy who fled with his family from the violence in their village waits his turn Nov. 8, 2012, to fill water at a displacement camp, in the Syrian village of Atmeh, near the Turkish border. (Associated Press)

A Syrian family who fled from the violence in their village sit on the ground at a displacement camp in the Syrian village of Atmeh, near the Turkish border. (Associated Press)

A Syrian woman who fled from the violence in her village carries a water bucket on her head Nov. 7, 2012, at a displacement camp in the Syrian village of Atma, near the Turkish border. (Associated Press)

A Syrian family, who fled their home due to government shelling, takes refuge Sept. 13, 2012, at Bab Al-Salameh crossing border, hoping to cross to one of the refugee camps in Turkey, near the Syrian town of Azaz. (Associated Press)

Amina Al Sado, 5, who fled with her family from the violence in their village, poses Nov. 7, 2012, for a photograph inside a tent at a displacement camp in the Syrian village of Atmeh, near the Turkish border. (Associated Press)

A Syrian family who fled from the violence in their village sits Nov. 5, 2012, in a tent at a displacement camp in the Syrian village of Atmeh, near the Turkish border. (Associated Press)

Syrian families who fled from the violence in their villages sit Nov. 8, 2012, next to their belongings at a displacement camp in the Syrian village of Atmeh, near the Turkish border. (Associated Press)

A Syrian man who fled from the violence in his village sits Nov. 8, 2012, for a haircut next to his tent at a camp in the Syrian village of Atmeh, near the Turkish border. (Associated Press)

Please read our comment policy before commenting.

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