Troops warn of IS threat in Turkish-held al-Bab

Syrians in Turkish-held city of al-Bab have continued to face serious injuries as humanitarian workers clear unexploded ordnance and opposition troops warn that threat of Islamic State has t disappeared.

Islamic State group, which once controlled large swas of Iraq and Syria, lost its last Syrian strongholds in early 2019.

But last week, U.N. counter-terrorism chief Vladimir Voronkov said that more than 10,000 Islamic State fighters were believed to remain active in Iraq and Syria two years after its defeat, and ir attacks had significantly increased this year.

He said movement had regrouped and its activity had increased, t only in conflict zones like Iraq and Syria but also in some regional affiliates.

In an al-Bab hospital, mor of a nine-year-old amputee said "we want security, we want security."

"Everyone wants to go back to ir hometown," Rim al Abdullah told British broadcaster Sky News.

A White Helmet humanitarian worker working to clear unexploded ordnance spoke of "big responsibility" in clearing land. "Every time a child gets hurt, I feel partially responsible," said Mahmoud Ali Houri.

Turkey controls most Syrian territory bordering its sourn frontier after a series of military operations.

Moatasm Abbas, an opposition commander holding line against regime forces at border of Turkish-backed buffer zone, said "we have or choice... we eir fight with what weapons we have or we die."

"Turkey is only one with us on ground, with weapons and military equipment," he added.