Nearly 70 fighters from two formerly allied extremist groups have been killed during infighting over the past 24 hours in northern Syria, AFP reported Tuesday (February 14th).
The clashes between al-Nusra Front (ANF), now known as Fatah al-Sham Front and the hardline Jund al-Aqsa faction erupted Monday morning following tensions over influence in the north-western province of Idlib.
The clashes erupted after Jund al-Aqsa carried out a suicide bomb attack against an ANF headquarters in Idlib, killing nine people, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
The toll has now risen to 69 dead from both sides in heavy clashes as well as executions, with the fighting spreading to the neighbouring province of Hama.
"There are battles between warlords, it is a war for influence," said Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman.
