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  World   Asia  29 Apr 2017  Syria: Rebel-jihadist clashes kill 40, injure 70

Syria: Rebel-jihadist clashes kill 40, injure 70

AFP
Published : Apr 29, 2017, 11:28 am IST
Updated : Apr 29, 2017, 11:28 am IST

Jaish al-Islam said its opponents had provoked the clashes by harassing reinforcements headed for Qabun, a front with regime forces.

Smoke billows following a reported air strike in rebel-held parts of Jobar on the eastern outskirts of Damascus, on March 19. (Photo: AFP/Mohammed EYAD)
 Smoke billows following a reported air strike in rebel-held parts of Jobar on the eastern outskirts of Damascus, on March 19. (Photo: AFP/Mohammed EYAD)

Damascus (Syria): The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the clashes pitted the Saudi-backed Jaish al-Islam against Fateh al-Sham, Al-Qaeda’s former branch in Syria, and Faylaq al-Rahman, which is backed by Qatar and Turkey.

Fierce clashes between jihadists and Islamist rebels near Damascus left at least 40 dead and 70 wounded on Friday, a monitoring group said.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the clashes pitted the Saudi-backed rebel faction Jaish al-Islam (Army of Islam) against Fateh al-Sham, Al-Qaeda’s former branch in Syria, and Faylaq al-Rahman, which is backed by Qatar and Turkey.

“There were at least 15 dead among the ranks of Jaish al-Islam and 23 among its adversaries” as well as two civilians, the Britain-based Observatory said.

Another 70 were wounded.

Jaish al-Islam said its opponents had provoked the clashes by harassing reinforcements headed for Qabun, east of the Syrian capital, a front with regime forces.

Faylaq al-Rahman denied the allegation.

In May 2016, more than 300 people were killed in a battle between the two sides.

Tags: al-qaeda, jihadists, islamist rebels, syrian observatory for human rights
Location: Syria, Damascus, Damascus