Activists say al-Qaida's Syrian branch overruns Western-backed rebel group's bases near Aleppo
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Activists and local residents say intense clashes between a Western-backed rebel group and al-Qaida's Syrian affiliate have killed at least 20 fighters on the outskirts of the northern city of Aleppo.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says fighters from the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front battled members of the mainstream Hazm Movement late Friday and early Saturday. It says Nusra fighters overran several Hazm bases near the town of Atarib.
An Aleppo-based activist who goes by the name Abu al-Hassan told The Associated Press that the two groups have had "numerous disagreements" in recent weeks.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Observatory said that 29 Hazm fighters and six Nusra Front militants were killed in the clashes.