Syrian forces near Turkish border, as around 30,000 Syrians mass at border

Syrian army troops recaptured a new village north of Aleppo on Feb. 8, bringing troops and allied militiamen to within a few kilometers of the Turkish border, while around 30,000 Syrians have massed at the Turkish-Syrian border due to a major Russian-backed offensive in the area, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu has said. 

Syrian state-run news agency SANA said army troops took control of the village of Kfeen in the northern countryside of Aleppo "after wiping out the last group of terrorists there."
Hezbollah's al-Manar TV and the pro-Syrian, Lebanon-based al-Mayadeen station also reported Kfeen's capture and aired live footage from the village.

The capture of Kfeen brought troops to about five kilometers from the town of Tel Rifaat, and about 30 kilometers from the Turkish border - the closest point to the Turkish border reached by government forces since they lost the Mannagh air base in mid-2013.

The government offensive around the city of Aleppo has sent tens of thousands of Syrians fleeing toward the border with Turkey, which remained closed for a fourth day on Feb. 8.

Davuto?lu said that around 30,000 Syrians had massed at the border with northwestern Syria.

Turkey will admit the almost 30,000 people fleeing war-torn Syria who have amassed at the border "when necessary," Davuto?lu said, adding that Russia's air assault should not be tolerated with the idea that Turkey will accept the refugees. 

"Obviously, as always, we will provide for our Syrian brothers and accept them when necessary," Davuto?lu said Feb. 8, during a press conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Ankara. 

But he warned: "No one should assume that just because Turkey is taking in all the refugees that it...