Heavy clashes in Syria's Aleppo kill civilians and spark panic

Damascus [Syria], January 7: Deadly clashes broke out on Tuesday between Kurdish fighters and government forces in the northern city of Aleppo, as both sides traded blame for the violence.
The fighting involved the Kurdish Internal Security Forces (Asayish), which are closely linked to the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), and forces allied with the Syrian government.
A member of the Ministry of Defence was killed and three others were wounded when the SDF targeted the area near the Shihhan roundabout in Aleppo, Syrian state media reported.
Hospital sources told DPA that two women were also killed and a child injured in shelling by the SDF that hit residential neighbourhoods. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the shelling caused widespread panic among residents, particularly in densely populated neighbourhoods.
But SDF spokesman Farhad al-Shami told DPA government-backed factions - including the Suleiman Shah Division (al-Amshat), the Hamza Division and the Sultan Murad faction - of carrying out the attacks. He said one civilian was killed and two others wounded by shelling from these forces. The SDF accused the government-backed militias, which are allied with Turkey, of attacking, among other places, Deir Harif in Aleppo province with mortar shells, heavy weapons and drones.
A recent meeting between delegations from the SDF and the Syrian government ended without tangible progress on a planned military merger, with disagreements continuing to hamper the integration process.
The Kurds, who are based mainly in north-eastern Syria, agreed in March to integrate previously self-governing Kurdish regions into the state system. They are the largest ethnic minority in Syria, and most of the country's oil and gas reserves are located in the north-east.
Source: Qatar Tribune