Militant killed in clashes between Turkish-backed factions in Syria’s Azaz
AZAZ, Syria (North Press) – One militant was killed and others were injured on Tuesday in intense clashes between two Turkish-backed armed factions in the city of Azaz, north of Aleppo. The clashes erupted due to a dispute over smuggling individuals into Turkish territory.
Areas controlled by Turkish-backed factions have recently witnessed recurring clashes between these groups, often resulting in casualties among militants and sometimes causing civilian deaths as most of these conflicts take place in residential areas.
A military source in the Third Legion of the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) told North Press, “Fierce clashes took place this evening at the al-Qala checkpoint in Azaz between the Turkish-backed Military Police and the Samarkand Brigade, part of the SNA’s First Legion.”
The clashes resulted in the killing of a militant from the Military Police and the injury of five others from both sides. In addition, the Samarkand Brigade arrested four militants of the Military Police.
The source indicated that the dispute arose when the Military Police arrested a group of individuals whom the Samarkand faction was attempting to smuggle into Turkey, sparking clashes after the former refused to release those individuals.