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Syrian army, Kurdish-led SDF exchange blame over northern Syria attack

Also in Syria Suspected ISIS militants kill school principal in east Syria Damascus forms committee to probe Suwayda violence US concerned groups remain out of Syrian government control Rojava donates $1 million to aid campaign for Syrian Druze A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Syria's defense ministry and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) early Sunday traded blame for an attack in northern Syria's Manbij city, amid a stalled integration deal between Damascus and the northeast Syria (Rojava) administration. The defense ministry said that the army 'is carrying out precise strikes targeting the sources of the fire used by the SDF forces in bombing' military and civilian positions near Manbij, which injured four soldiers and three civilians, according to a statement published by the state-run SANA news agency. But the US-backed SDF rejected the accusations, accusing Damascus-affiliated forces of 'continuing to provoke and launching repeated attacks on contact lines in the Deir Hafer area,' and saying that their retaliation was carried out in self-defense. 'On the evening of Saturday, these factions indiscriminately shelled populated areas with more than ten artillery rounds, without justification. Our forces exercised their full right to self-defense and responded to the sources of fire,' the SDF said in a statement. The Kurdish-led force further called on Damascus to adhere to a ceasefire between the sides. The attack risks derailing a landmark integration deal signed in March between Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa and SDF chief Mazloum Abdi. The deal seeks to integrate the SDF into the Syrian state apparatus, recognizes the Kurds as an integral part of Syria, includes a countrywide ceasefire, and stipulates the return of displaced Syrians to their hometowns. Differences over the methods of implementation have stalled the deal, with the SDF insisting on integrating as a unit while Damascus wants individual integrations.