Two Syrian soldiers killed in overnight northeast clashes

• Kurdish forces clash with Syrian army in northeast Syria.
• Two soldiers killed, others wounded during overnight fighting.
• Kurds target former Daesh positions, accuse Damascus of coordination.
• SDF-government tensions persist despite integration agreement.

Overnight clashes in northeastern Syria between Kurdish-led forces and the Syrian army left at least two soldiers dead, according to the country’s defence ministry, which blamed the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) for the attack.

The ministry, quoted by the SANA state news agency, said the clashes occurred in Raqa province after the SDF attacked army positions. Kurdish-led fighters reportedly seized several locations, resulting in casualties among government forces. Syrian soldiers later returned fire and regained the positions.

The SDF, the de facto military of the semi-autonomous Kurdish administration in Syria’s oil-rich north and northeast, said its forces were targeting positions previously used by Daesh to launch drone attacks on Kurdish troops.

"The region has been subjected to a series of attacks this week by factions affiliated with the Damascus government, in parallel with the activity of IS members who have actually used those positions to carry out their terrorist attacks," the SDF said, alleging "direct coordination between several Damascus government factions and IS terrorists in targeting our military positions."

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported a higher death toll, citing six government personnel killed.