More than 100 combatants were killed over the last two days in northern Syria in fighting between Turkish-backed groups and Syrian Kurdish forces, a war monitor said on Sunday.Turkish-backed factions in northern Syria resumed their fight with the SDF at the same time as Islamist-led rebels were launching an offensive on November 27 that overthrew Syrian president Bashar al-Assad just 11 days later.

Turkey said Monday that it was "only a matter of time" before Syrian Kurdish fighters -- seen by the West as essential in the fight against Islamic State jihadists -- will be wiped out.

The US eased some restrictions on humanitarian aid and essential services in Syria while keeping in place other sanctions that block aid to the new government in Damascus. Guidance from the Treasury Department on Monday grants blanket authorisation for NGOs and international organisations providing essential services to Syria such as electricity,

The U.S. on Monday eased some restrictions on Syria’s transitional government after Islamist insurgents ousted Syrian leader Bashar Assad