Beirut, Dec 28, (dpa/GNA) – There have been renewed exchanges of fire between pro-Turkish forces and Kurdish militias in northern Syria.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a war monitor, reported on Saturday that the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fired rockets at the positions of the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA), near the Tishrin Dam during the night.
The SNA responded with heavy fire at Kurdish targets near the border town of Kobane.
The SDF itself said there were heavy battles on several fronts, and 17 SNA members were killed. Among the dead is said to be at least one commander.
The UK-based war monitor said several civilians were also injured in SNA attacks.
The SNA is currently advancing into Kurdish-controlled areas in northern Syria. Turkey is accused of trying to exploit the power vacuum in Syria, to crush the Kurdish-controlled areas in the north of the country.
The Kurdish SDF is supported by the United States, but Turkey views the militia as an offshoot of the banned Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and thus, as a terrorist organization.
GNA