Ongoing violence between rival jihadists has forced nearly 60,000 people to flee towns in Deir Ezzor province of eastern Syria, AFP reports.
Fierce clashes between al Qaeda-linked al Nusra Front and former al Qaeda affiliate Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) have continued for four days.
“Residents of the towns of Busayra, home to 35,000 people, Abriha, home to 12,000 people, and al Zir, home to 15,000 people, have nearly all been displaced by the fighting in the area,” the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights told AFP.
The Observatory reports that both groups were responsible for burning down homes. At least 62 fighters have been killed this week, according to AFP.
Most residents of Deir Ezzor fled to Turkey, while some moved relocated to other rebel-held areas in the region.
Ayman al Zawahiri, the leader of al Qaeda, disavowed ISIL in early February of this year.
