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Middle East and North Africa

Islamist militants and pro-west opposition ceased fire and reached truce

Militants fought for border crossing which routes supplies

Photo ITAR-TASS/ Mikhail Potchuev

Photo ITAR-TASS/ Mikhail Potchuev

LONDON, September 20. (Itar-Tass) - Militants from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant group, linked with Al Qaeda, and pro-west Free Syrian army, who previously engaged in conflict in north Syria, have ceased fire and reached a truce, Reuter reported.

The conflict between two opposition groups erupted on Wednesday and continued for two days. Islamists pushed out the Syrian Army from a strategically located town Azaz near border crossing of Bab al-Salameh, which is located in 5 kilometers from the Turkish border and 30 kilometers from the Syrian city of Aleppo. Bab al-Salameh was the main objective, as it’s used by the Syrian forces to receive weapons, ammunition and other resources.

The conflict started after Islamists attempted to kidnap a German doctor, who volunteered at a private clinic in Azaz; the opposing protected him.

The two sides now agreed to cease fire and exchange prisoners; the dispute over the border crossing has to be determined by a “court” formed by insurgents in areas they control.

Tension between the Free Syrian Army and Islamist cells linked to Al Qaeda started escalating earlier this year. Azaz confrontation is the largest internal opposition conflict to date.

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