Five Syrian opposition fighters were killed Friday in clashes with troops loyal to President Bashar al Assad in Lattakia city, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said.

A number of Syrian servicemen were also killed in the face-off, SOHR Chairman Ramy Abdel Rahman said.

He added that the clashes erupted after the Syrian army launched an attack in a bid to liberate Lattakia city from the opposition fighters.