Syria's 'Civil War' Turns Into A Civil War Between Rebel Groups: Al Qaeda vs Non-Al Qaeda - 500 Killed

Free Syrian Army soldier walking among rubble in Aleppo.
(Photo by Voice of America News)

Toll includes 85 civilians as rebel brigades battle al-Qaeda-linked armed group in four provinces in country's north.

Clashes between Syrian rebel and fighters from an al-Qaeda-linked group have killed nearly 500 people in northern Syria over the past week, according to a monitoring group.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says that at least 482 people have been killed in the fighting that has pitted a loose alliance of rebel brigades with different ideologies against the fighters of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).

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The toll includes 240 rebels, 157 ISIL fighters and 85 civilians, the group said on Friday.
The fighting has spread across four provinces in opposition-held parts of northern Syria since it began last Friday, causing large-scale supply shortages.

Reports say ISIL has alienated other factions over the past several months by using harsh tactics to implement its strict interpretation of Islamic law, and by its kidnapping and killing of opponents.

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