Syrian govt forces, opposition clash in northwest

Syrian government forces clashed with opposition members in Hama province on Friday in some of the heaviest fighting in the country's northwest in a year, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

The army and allied forces attacked the oppsoition near Halfaya village overnight, seizing some positions, the UK-based war monitoring group said.

At least 22 members of the Jaish al-Izza faction died in ambushes, and dozens more were wounded, the highest casualty toll of fighters in the northwest in many months, it said.

The Observatory said it was unclear if pro-government forces were killed.