BEIRUT – An activist group and a Kurdish official say clashes have broken out between Syrian government forces and Kurdish gunmen in the northeastern city of Hassakeh.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says the clashes broke out Saturday after members of a Kurdish militia detained 10 Syrian soldiers and pro-government gunmen after they deployed in areas controlled by the Kurds.
Kurdish Democratic Union Party spokesman Nawaf Khalil says the fighting concentrated in several areas in the predominantly Kurdish city.
It has been rare for the two sides to clash since the government withdrew much of its forces from Kurdish areas in 2012 to support positions elsewhere in the country. Since then Kurdish fighters have openly deployed in the areas.
The Observatory said there are casualties on both sides.
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