Clashes between Islamists now in power in Syria and Assad’s supporters kill 6 fighters

Associated Press

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — A British-based war monitor said clashes between Islamists who took over Syria and supporters of ousted President Bashar Assad’s government have killed six Islamic fighters and wounded others. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the fighters were killed while trying to arrest a former official in Assad’s government, accused of issuing execution orders and arbitrary rulings against thousands of prisoners. The killed fighters were from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, which led the stunning offensive that toppled Assad earlier this month. In Damascus, protesters from Assad’s Alawite minority scuffled with Sunni counter-protesters. There were also Alawite protests elsewhere in the country. At least one protestor was killed and five were wounded in the city of Homs.