Seven dead as clashes erupt in northern Syria

Seven were killed and dozens were wounded following clashes on Saturday between formations of the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA), in northern Syria, The New Arab’s Arabic language service Al-Araby Al-Jadeed reported.

Clashes erupted in the countryside of Aleppo city as the so-called Third Legion - affiliated with Jabhat al-Shamiya – attacked the so-called 32nd Division, affiliated with the eastern sector of the Ahrar al-Sham faction.

The reason behind the attack on the 32^nd division was due to its deflection from the Third Legion’s ranks a few days ago.

At least five members across the two sides were killed and dozens of others were wounded, as two civilians were also killed and another two were injured as a result of the aggression.

Heavy machinery was used in the clashes, according to an Al-Araby Al-Jadeed correspondent, who said large military enforcements - including tanks and heavy artillery - for the Third Legion arrived at the scene from the northern city of Azaz.

While enforcements supporting the Ahrar al-Sham movement attempted to arrive from Idlib, the National Liberation Front closed the Deir Ballut crossing, separating areas controlled by the Syrian National Army and Tahrir al-Sham.

The Third Legion took control of the villages of Tal Battal and Abla in the countryside of Al-Bab city, east of Aleppo, as the clashes spread to Awlan and Sheikh Alwan in the countryside of Al-Bab city, according to the correspondent.

Clashes between the components of the SNA occur from time to time in most of the areas under its control, which include the northern and eastern countryside’s of Aleppo.

The SNA formed as 40 factions of armed opposition groups in 2017 across Syria and is made up of around 70,000 soldiers.

Syria has been locked in civil war since early 2011, when President Bashar al-Assad’s regime cracked down on pro-democracy protesters. Hundreds of thousands of civilians have since been killed and more than 10 million displaced.