Saudi Arabia would be willing to commit special forces to Syria should the international coalition decide to deploy ground troops against Islamic State, the country's foreign minister said on Wednesday.
More than 500 people, including dozens of civilians, have been killed since a major Russian-backed regime offensive in Syria's Aleppo province began this month, a monitor said.
Turkish security forces seized explosives and four suicide vests in the baggage of a group of suspects stopped at the border with Syria, the Turkish army said.
Syrian rebels have withdrawn from three villages threatened by Russian strikes in the northern province of Aleppo that borders Turkey, allowing Kurdish fighters to overrun them, a monitor said.
Saudi Arabia's King Salman on Sunday called on other countries not to interfere in the kingdom's internal affairs in what appeared to be a rebuke to Iran, which it accuses of attempting to stir unrest.
The United Arab Emirates said it was ready to send ground troops to Syria as part of an international coalition to fight against Islamic State.
Thousands of Syrians were braving cold and rain at the Turkish border on Saturday after fleeing a Russian-backed regime assault on Aleppo in northern Syria that threatens a fresh humanitarian disaster.
Up to 20,000 Syrians were stranded on the Turkish border Friday after fleeing a major Russian-backed regime offensive near Aleppo where a new humanitarian disaster appeared to be unfolding.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday blasted as "laughable" Russia's accusation that Turkey was actively preparing to invade Syria.
Syrian government forces and allied fighters seized the town of Ataman near Deraa city on Friday, building on gains made last week in the southern province.
Tens of thousands of Syrians are moving towards the Turkish border from the Syrian city of Aleppo due to increased aerial bombardment, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said on Thursday at a fundraising conference in London.
The commander of the US-led coalition fighting the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria on Monday dismissed calls to carpet- bomb the jihadists.
