Kurdish fighters, who are opposed to foreign interference in Syria, have been battling foreign-backed militants affiliated to Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in the strategically important northeastern province of Hasakah, Al-Alam reported.

The Kurdish militants have been succeeded in clearing the whole region of all al-Qaeda affiliated groups till now.

Scores of al-Qaeda-linked militants have been killed in the clashes with the Kurds. Some of the Kurdish militants were also died in retaliatory attacks.

On July 21, the Kurdish militants took control of a key checkpoint controlled by al-Qaeda-linked militants and seized light weapons, ammunition, a vehicle mounted with a heavy machine gun, and a mortar launcher.

On July 17, the Kurdish fighters also took control of the town of Ras al-Ain in the border province of Hasakah.

Tensions have been running high between Syria and Turkey, with Damascus accusing Ankara -- along with Saudi Arabia and Qatar -- of backing a deadly insurgency that has claimed the lives of many Syrians, including security and army personnel.

Syria has been gripped by deadly unrest since 2011.

A very large number of the militants operating inside Syria are reportedly foreign nationals.

NJF/NJF