Syria's Kurdish-led SDF, govt forces clash in Aleppo province

Damascus [Syria], August 5: The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have said that armed factions associated with the country's security forces have attacked some of its positions in the northern province of Aleppo, as efforts by Syria's fledgling government to unify the nation have been hit on several fronts.
In a post on X, the group, which controls much of northeastern Syria, claimed the incident took place early on Monday morning in the Deir Hafer area. The allegation comes just months after the SDF and the Syrian interim government signed a landmark integration agreement in March.
Government-linked factions launched an assault on four of the SDF's positions in the village of Al-Imam at 3am on Monday morning, the SDF said, noting that the ensuing clashes lasted for 20 minutes.
"We hold the Damascus government fully responsible for this behaviour, and reaffirm that our forces are now more prepared than ever to exercise their legitimate right to respond with full force and determination," the SDF added.
The latest incident came after the Syrian government accused the SDF of injuring four soldiers and three civilians in the northern city of Manbij on Saturday. The Defence Ministry called the attack "irresponsible", saying it had been carried out for "unknown reasons", according to Syria's state news agency SANA.
Meanwhile, the SDF, which allied with the United States to help defeat ISIL (ISIS) in the region, blamed the Syrian government.
Source: Qatar Tribune