Rival Syrian opposition groups in northwestern Syria resumed heavy clashes a day after a fragile truce ended five days of bloody fighting in the last remaining opposition enclave, residents and opposition factions said on Monday.
The main extremist opposition group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), listed as terrorists by the United States, Türkiye and others, forced factions from the Türkiye-backed opposition National Army to accept a peace deal on Saturday that expanded its grip.
Both sides traded accusations that they had reneged on provisions of the Türkiye-brokered deal, which pulls fighters from Afrin and other cities back to their respective frontlines and paves the way for a unified civilian administration.
Intense fighting raged near rugged terrain around Kafr Jana village in northern Aleppo where both sides sent reinforcements. Residents fear the extremist group seeks to capture the strategic border city of Azaz, the administrative center of the mainstream Turkish-backed opposition government.
A commander in a mainstream faction that is staying on the sidelines who requested anonymity said the HTS was approaching the main Bab al Salamah border crossing with Türkiye, northwest of Azaz.
Infighting has weakened the Syrian opposition since the start of the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad in 2011. Their turf wars have helped Assad and his allies recover significant ground.
Western intelligence sources and opposition fighters say HTS has long sought a wider economic and security role in areas in northern Syria beyond its stronghold in the heavily populated city of Idlib.
They say the goal of HTS leader Mohammad al Golani was to expand to other areas the civilian administration that now efficiently runs Idlib region's public services in an attempt to shed the militant image of the group, a former offshoot of the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda.
"We are working for a project that serves everyone and the goals of the revolution that unites the liberated areas in one army and a joint administration that everyone participates in, civilians and areas," a senior HTS source told Reuters.
