Syria reopens link from Damascus to Aleppo

The highway that links the Syrian capital with the northern city of Aleppo is open for public use for the first time in nearly eight years after government forces recently captured parts of it that had been held by insurgents, the transportation minister said Saturday.

The reopening of the highway came as another Turkish soldier was killed in northwestern Syria in shelling by government forces, according to Turkish state media.

The full control of the highway, known as the M5, by government forces earlier this month marked one of the biggest prizes for President Bashar Assad in the nearly nine-year conflict. Transport Minister Ali Hammoud said the highway is open to the public.