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Levant Front, Sultan Murad Brigade Clash Over Bab al-Salameh Crossing

Turkish-backed rebel groups urged the combatants to cool their tensions, opposition website reports
Levant Front, Sultan Murad Brigade Clash Over Bab al-Salameh Crossing

Two rebel groups clashed early Sunday near the Bab al-Salameh border crossing with Turkey only a week after handing over the crossing to the opposition’s interim government.

The Levant Front has accused the Sultan Murad Brigade of attacking its convoy in Al-Hamran district in the northern countryside of Aleppo “despite its withdrawal from the crossing a week ago and its abiding by the opposition’s demands.”

Turkish-backed rebel groups urged Sultan Murad Brigade to end the tension with the Levant Front.

Shifting the management of the strategic crossing to the opposition comes as Turkey seeks to expel hard-line rebels from northern Syria along the border after the collapse of the Islamic State (ISIS).

In September, the interim government formed a Defense Ministry comprised of 44 moderate armed factions, including the Sultan Murad Brigade and the Levant Front, saying the step was toward building a united national army for Syria.

This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.

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