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

Syrians in the Turkish-held city of al-Bab have continued to face serious injuries as humanitarian workers clear unexploded ordnance and opposition troops warn that the threat of the Islamic State has not disappeared.

The Islamic State group, which once controlled large swathes 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 their attacks had significantly increased this year.

He said the movement had regrouped and its activity had increased, not only in conflict zones like Iraq and Syria but also in some regional affiliates.

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

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

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

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

Moatasm Abbas, an opposition commander holding the line against regime forces at the border of the Turkish-backed buffer zone, said "we have no other choice... we either fight with what weapons we have or we die."

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