Baladi News
At least 11 people have been killed in escalating clashes between Russian forces and pro-Iranian militias in the city of Aleppo, amid strained relations between the two Assad allies, Middle East Monitor quoted news agency Syria Call as reporting.
A Russian military source acknowledged the death of 11 people, including two children and three women, whilst 11 others are believed to have been injured in the violence, the MEMO reported.
Clashes reportedly broke out near a vegetable market in Khaldiya, which quickly escalated to the use of heavy weaponry, with some ground-to-air missiles fired on nearby areas within the city, resulting in the civilian casualties, MEMO added.
Although both Russia and Iran have supported the Syrian regime of Bashar Al-Assad, tensions have been rising in government-controlled territories over administrative issues, with both forces competing for public influence.
The management of checkpoints has also become contentious, with Russian troops and Iranian militants charging royalties for crossings, by which they can generate huge profits on a daily basis, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
In the aftermath of Israeli bombing on Iranian targets near Aleppo, Tehran-backed groups have accused the Russians of coordinating with Tel Aviv on the strikes, hoping to also benefit from a weakening Iranian presence. Last month, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu affirmed that Russian President Vladimir Putin also wanted all Iranian forces to withdraw from Syria.
Source: MEMO.