Syrian rebels sandwiched between gov't troops, Kurds

DAMASCUS, July 20 (Xinhua) -- Syrian state media said Saturday that government troops had launched an operation in the country's northeast, amid reports that Kurdish fighters also seized an opposition checkpoint in the region.

Government troops carried out "a series of qualitative operations" in the northeastern province of Hasaka, killing and injuring a number of opposition fighters, state-run SANA news agency reported.

SANA quoted local sources as saying that the operation covered a wide range of locations including al-Siha, Twineh, al-Khamael, Qana and al-Karmeh and al-Saad al-Janoubi.

Meanwhile, the Britain-based activists' group, Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said Kurdish fighters had clashed with al-Qaida-linked opposition groups and seized a checkpoint.

As the dominant power in the region, Kurds have been increasingly active in keeping out foreign fighters that fill the ranks of the opposition. Analysts believe that the Kurds might use this opportunity to seek independence from Syria.

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