Rebel infighting in Syria kills 24

Activists say fierce infighting between rival Islamic rebel groups in northeastern Syria along the border with Iraq has killed at least 24 fighters, The Associated Press reported.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says the 24 died in rebel-on-rebel fighting on Thursday in the oil-rich province of Deir el Zour.

The Observatory says Thursday’s battle was focused around the town of Bukmal, near the Iraq border. Another activist group, the Local Coordination Committee, also reported the infighting.

The fighting is between rebels from the al-Qaida breakaway group known as the Islamic State of Iraq, and fighters of the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front. The two have for months battled each other over territory they previously captured together from President Bashar Assad’s forces.

panorama