At least 25 people were killed and an unknown number of others wounded in heavy fighting in north Syria’s Afrin District. Both factions are Turkish-backed rebel groups vying for more control over the conquered Kurdish territory.
Both factions involved were aligned in the conquest of the area from the Kurdish YPG, but today one Turkish-backed group attacked the other, the Ahrar Shaqiya brigade, who they said were “disobeying” the Turks.
Kurdish officials have been claiming abuses by the occupying militias, and this appears to be related to that, with the attacking force claiming the Ahrar Shaqiya were responsible for a number of looting and robbery incidents.
The westernmost Kurdish district in Syria, Afrin was the first target of Turkey invasion earlier this year. Turkish officials initially said the plan was to oust the Kurds from all areas west of the Euphrates River, though recently they have indicated that they’ll be attacking all Kurdish areas east of the river as well.