Two civilians shot in inter-rebel fighting in northern Syria

At least two Syrian civilians were shot on Thursday after clashes broke out between rebel factions during the holy month of Ramadan in northern Syria.

A woman and an elderly man were wounded by bullets fired as two factions of the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) - 'Faylaq al-Sham' and the 'Hamza Division' - clashed near the city of Afrin in nothwestern Syria, local sources told The New Arab's Arabic-language service.

The clashes erupted over a dispute between the groups over meals to break their fast with after sunset, when Muslims break their fast in Ramadan.

"An elderly man and a woman were injured in violent clashes with heavy weapons in the Bulbul district in the countryside of Afrin", the Afrin Human Rights Organisation, a Kurdish group, said in a statement.

Afrin, which is a Kurdish majority area, was controlled by the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) until 2018 when Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch, and the Turkish-backed SNA took control.

Many Kurdish civilians were displaced and refugees from other parts of Syria settled in Afrin.

Residents across northern Syria in areas controlled by the Turkish-backed SNA have complained about safety and security levels, as SNA fighters clash with each other in city and town centres and civilians are caught in the crossfire.

Car bombs have also gone off in crowded markets in SNA-controlled areas, killing many people, with the SNA accusing the YPG and the Islamic State extremist group of responsibility.

Over 500,000 people have been killed in the Syrian conflict, mostly as a result of Assad regime bombardment of civilian areas. The conflict has grown increasingly complex since it broke out in 2011, with Turkey, Russia, Iran and the US becoming involved.

It has also resulted the displacement of at least 11 million people.