41 killed in Syria violence

Damascus, Oct 17 (IANS/EFE) At least 41 people were killed in clashes between Islamist and Kurdish militia forces in Hassakeh province in northeastern Syria, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Wednesday.

Among the dead are 29 jihadists belonging to the Islamic state in Iraq and the Levant, which is linked to Al Qaeda, and to other affiliated organisations such as the Al Nusra Front.

The rest of the dead are reportedly members of the Kurdish militias known as the Kurdish People's Protection Units.

The clashes occurred in the village of Tel Elu and other nearby communities located in the Yal Aga zone from Tuesday morning through Wednesday morning.

During the fighting, the Kurds captured an armoured car and heavy weaponry belonging to the Islamists.

The province of Hassakeh, which has a Kurdish majority, for the past several weeks has been the scene of fighting between Kurds and extremist groups, who are disputing control of various areas.

More than 100,000 people have died since the outbreak of the conflict in Syria in mid-March 2011, according to the United Nations, although the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says that more than 115,000 people have perished.

--IANS/EFE

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