Syria Islamists, Jihadists Fight on Despite Pact

A key Syrian Islamist rebel group and a jihadist faction have signed a non-aggression pact after days of clashes, but fighting continued on Tuesday despite the deal, a monitor said.

The jihadist Jund al-Aqsa faction has been involved in heavy fighting with rebel groups including the influential Islamist Ahrar al-Sham in northwestern Idlib since October 6.

The two groups were once allies in the fight against President Bashar Assad's regime, though rebel factions have often accused Jund al-Aqsa of ties with the Islamic State group, which has targeted rebels.

In a bid to calm the tensions, the jihadist Fateh al-Sham Front -- an ally of Ahrar al-Sham and key rival of IS -- announced on Sunday it would bring Jund al-Aqsa into its ranks.

And on Monday night, Fateh al-Sham and Ahrar al-Sham signed a deal intended to end the in-fighting.

But the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the clashes were continuing in Idlib on Tuesday.

Government forces have taken advantage of the in-fighting to recapture a series of towns and villages in neighbouring Hama province, the Britain-based monitoring group said.

More than 300,000 people have been killed since the Syrian conflict began in March 2011.