![Armoured vehicles of Turkish Armed Forces are seen as they begin a second round of patrolling in the northern Syrian city of Manbij as part of the objective to clear the area of the YPG/PKK fighters on June 20, 2018 [Saher el Hacci / Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/20180620_2_31007019_34849215-e1542556802262.jpg?fit=1200%2C799&ssl=1)
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said yesterday that more than 30 people were killed during clashes between the Al-Qaeda-linked Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) and the Turkish-backed National Liberation Front (NLF) in western Aleppo, northern Syria.
HTS is pushing to expand its control in the region after the National Liberation Front withdrew some of its forces from the area to Manbij. Turkey is preparing to launch a major attack against Kurdish militants in the area, local activists said.
According to the observatory, HTS yesterday took controlled of the town of Darat Azza in the region.
Those killed include militants and civilians.
UAE, Egypt military officers tour Manbij ahead of deployment of forces