‘Heavy fighting’ between Syria, Turkish troops
Regime media reported heavy machine gun fire
Beirut: Syria’s state news agency is reporting intense clashes between government forces and Turkish troops in the country’s north.
SANA said Saturday’s clashes included heavy machine gun fire and occurred in the village of Um Shaifa near the town of Ras Al Ain.
Turkey invaded Syria’s northeast last month to push out Syrian Kurdish fighters near the border.
The Kurdish groups called in Syrian government forces to halt Turkey’s advance.
Syrian government forces have clashed since with Turkish troops and Turkey-backed opposition fighters. Moscow has brokered a shaky truce in northern Syria, but sporadic clashes have continued.
Last week, Turkish forces captured 18 Syrian government soldiers in the area and set them free hours later following mediation by Russia.