Infighting leaves 30 Daesh terrorists dead in northern Syria
At least 30 members of the Takfiri Daesh terrorist group have reportedly died and dozens more suffered injuries in the latest wave of infighting between anti-Damascus and foreign-sponsored militant groups operating inside conflict-ridden Syria.
The deadly clashes broke out between Daesh terrorists on one side and fighters from rival militant outfits in the town of Marea, located about 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) north of Aleppo, on Saturday, Arabic-language Suriya al-Mubasher news website reported.
Military sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, reported that three vehicles rigged with explosives were destroyed in the process.
Takfiri militants also seized a considerable amount of munitions and heavy machineguns belonging to Daesh following the skirmishes, and arrested two Daesh members.
Separately, there are reports that Syrian fighter jets have carried out a series of aerial attacks against militant positions in Jaroud Qarah and al-Jarajir districts of the strategic, mountainous region of Qalamoun, located about 330 kilometers (205 miles) north of the Syrian capital, Damascus.
Elsewhere in the eastern city of Deir Ezzor, Syrian army units and allied popular defense groups dealt a heavy blow to Daesh.
Syrian soldiers patrol their positions near the ancient city of Palmyra on May 5, 2016. (© AFP)
On Friday, Syrian army forces thwarted an al-Nusra Front offensive on military posts near the northern village of Ma’an, which is administratively part of Hama Province.
A military source, requesting not to be named, told Syria’s official news agency SANA that more than 50 Daesh terrorists were killed during the clashes, and nine vehicles destroyed. Two of the vehicles were reportedly armored and equipped with heavy machineguns.
An army unit, in cooperation with popular defense groups, also seized a car loaded with ammunition and weapons and belonging to Daesh on the road linking the city of Athriya to militant-held Raqqah, located on the north bank of the Euphrates River and about 160 kilometers (99 miles) east of Aleppo.
United Nations Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura says over 400,000 people have been killed in the crisis that has gripped Syria since March 2011.
