Fresh Takfiri infighting leaves 45 terrorists dead in Syria

Nearly 45 people have been killed and several others severely injured in violent clashes between rival militant groups in Syria.

Sources say deadly clashes continue between rival groups in eastern Syria on Monday.

The so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which is based in London and opposes the Syrian government, says at least 45 militants have been killed in fresh infighting in the town of Khosham, in Deir al-Zor Province.

The clashes took place between the al-Qaeda-linked Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and the Takfiri al-Nusra Front.

Casualties have been reported on both sides. ISIL is battling a coalition of militant groups including the so-called Free Syrian Army.

The group has been facing a backlash over its harsh interpretation of Islam and abuses against civilians and rival militant groups.

The infighting has escalated in the past months, amid gains by the Syrian army across the country. In recent months, the Syrian army has managed to liberate a number of militant-held areas.

Clashes between the militant groups still continue despite an order by al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri to stop the infighting.

Months of violent conflicts among different armed groups have killed thousands of Takfiri militants in Syria.

The Syrian government says its troops are going ahead with their operations to push out the foreign-backed militants from residential areas across the country.

Syria has been gripped by deadly violence since March 2011. According to some sources, more than 160,000 people have been killed and millions displaced due to the violence fueled by the foreign-backed militants.

According to reports, Western powers and their regional allies – especially Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey – are supporting the militants operating inside Syria.