Tensions have risen in the Syrian city of al-Bab in north-east Aleppo province following violent clashes among local opposition groups that have left many fighters and civilians dead or wounded, military commanders told Diyaruna.

The clashes are between moderate opposition groups and factions that have sworn allegiance to Tahrir al-Sham, a coalition that includes al-Nusra Front (ANF), or the "Islamic State of Iraq and Syria" (ISIS).

"The fiercer the war on terrorist groups in Syria is, the tenser the situation becomes in the areas where small groups that have sworn allegiance to ISIS and Tahrir al-Sham are located," said al-Bab Military Council commander Mohammed al-Tawil, also known as "Abu Ibrahim".

"This is because these groups are trying to take pre-emptive steps, impose an iron fist and exclude all the factions that are affiliated with the Free Syrian Army (FSA) that reject terrorism and extremism," he told Diyaruna.

The situation in and around al-Bab "has been tense for a while, because of the multiple factions there", he said, noting that most local factions and residents reject the extremists and their actions.

Sporadic outbreaks of violence

"Clashes involving light weapons erupted on Thursday (June 15th) between al-Bab Military Council and elements affiliated with the 1st Regiment (al-Foj al-Awal) in rural al-Bab," al-Tawil said.

"These are an extension of the battles which took place earlier this week, which started on June 11th when a group of al-Foj al-Awal chanted slogans in support of Tahrir al-Sham and its leader, [Abu Mohammed] al-Joulani," he said.

"When civilians and some elements of the military council tried to intervene to stop them, the group opened fire, killing five, including two civilians," he said.

As a result, clashes spread and engulfed the entire city and surrounding areas.

The al-Bab Military Council, which includes many moderate opposition factions, raided al-Foj al-Awal headquarters and posts.

"Al-Foj al-Awal is an opposition group known to have sworn allegiance to Ahrar al-Sham," al-Tawil said. "However, Ahrar al-Sham said in a statement following these events that the group had been expelled after its ties with ANF were discovered."

Tense situation on the ground

A ceasefire agreement entered into force on Tuesday (June 13th), al-Tawil said. However, the situation is still tense, he added, with all factions in the area mobilising their fighters and Tahrir al-Sham engaging in intensive movements.

This indicates there is a strong likelihood of further armed clashes, especially as ANF is categorically rejected by all local factions and residents, he said.

"At least 30, mostly from al-Foj al-Awal, but including civilians as well, were killed, and many others were wounded in these clashes," al-Tawil said.

The al-Bab Military Council, a coalition of seven small factions allied with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), was formed in August 2016 to liberate the city from ISIS, and succeeded in this effort in February.