Clashes erupt in northwest Syria; activists report heavy regime casualties

BEIRUT – Syrian activists say clashes and shelling have caused heavy casualties among government forces in a northwestern coastal province.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says 20 soldiers were killed in clashes with rebels in Latakia, but it was impossible to confirm that toll independently. The Observatory cited witnesses on the ground for the figure.

Other activists confirmed several hours of fighting in the mountains of Latakia. The fighting began late Tuesday and continued into early Wednesday.