New clashes between Kurds and Islamists in Syria, a 'war within a war'

AsiaNews - The Kurdish minority does not want jihadist fighters on its territory, accusing them of 'ethnic hatred'. Hostilities continue between the two groups continue along the Turkish border as the regime gains strength. 

The position of the Committee for the Protection of Kurdish people weakens anti-Assad forces.


Aleppo (AsiaNews/Agencies) - Clashes between Kurdish rebels and Islamist militants along the Turkish border, where the jihadist presence hinders the minority's political interests, constitute a conflict within a conflict. "We think that the crisis in Syria will not end anytime soon, so we need to create democratic self-rule in western Kurdistan," said Salih Muslim, head of Syria's Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD).

The forces of the al-Nusra Front and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, both affiliated to al-Qaeda and involved in the fight against Assad, are a growing concern for Syria's Kurdish minority (about 15 per cent of the population).   More