40 dead in clashes between islamist militants near damascus monitor fierce clashes between islamist militants near damascus left at least 40 dead and 70 wounded on friday a monitoring group said. the syrian observatory for human rights said the clashes pitted the saudi-backed rebel faction jaish al-islam (army of islam) against fateh al-sham al-qaedas former branch in syria and faylaq al-rahman which is backed by qatar and turkey. "there were at least 15 dead among the ranks of jaish al-islam and 23 among its adversaries" as well as two civilians the britain-based observatory said. another 70 were wounded. jaish al-islam said its opponents had provoked the clashes by harassing reinforcements headed for qabun east of the syrian capital a front with regime forces. faylaq al-rahman denied the allegation. in may 2016 more than 300 people were killed in a battle between the two sides.
40 dead in clashes between islamist militants near damascus monitor