DAMASCUS, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- Turkey-backed rebels clashed with Kurdish fighters in the northern province of Raqqa on Friday, in the latest escalation between both sides in that part of the country.
The clashes erupted when Turkey-backed rebels attempted to infiltrate positions of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the town of Ayn Issa in the countryside of Raqqa, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported.
Also, the Turkish forces shelled positions inside Ayn Issa, said the monitor group, adding that one of the shells landed near a Russian position in that area.
A total of 7,000 people have fled their homes in Ayn Issa over the past month, fearing a Turkish military campaign.
The UK-based watchdog group said the Ayn Issa town, with a population of 11,000, is controlled by the SDF and contains several bases of the Syrian army.
On Nov. 19, Turkey created a base in the countryside of Ayn Issa, further fueling the fears of the local residents.
The town has a strategic significance as it serves as a hub connecting Aleppo and Hasakah provinces through the M4 highway. It's also connected with the Tal Abyad city on the Syrian-Turkish border.
The SDF controlled the town in 2015 with the help of the U.S.-led coalition, following battles with the Islamic State (IS) militants. Enditem
