Clashes as jihadists attack besieged Syria villages

BEIRUT, June 10 (AFP): Deadly clashes erupted overnight as jihadist fighters attacked two besieged regime-controlled villages in northwestern Syria, a monitor said on Sunday.

The villages of Fuaa and Kafraya represent a tiny pocket of regime-held territory in Syria's northwest Idlib province, which is otherwise almost entirely controlled by various jihadist and hardline rebels.

Occasional skirmishes erupt there but the frontline has been quiet in recent months.

Late Saturday, fighters from Al-Qaeda's former Syrian affiliate attacked Fuaa and Kafraya, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

"Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) began heavily shelling the two villages, and broke into Fuaa to attack local fighters," said Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman.

"This is the fiercest attack in around three years," he said.

The fighting, which was continuing Sunday, had killed six Syrian pro-regime fighters and at least three from HTS.

Syrian state news agency SANA also reported the attack, and said local fighters had been able to push HTS back.

Around 10,000 people, most of them Shiite Muslims, are estimated to live in the two villages.