The northern fighting centered in Aleppo province, where government-aligned forces and Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), who dominate much of the region and are backed by US forces - exchanged gunfire and artillery attacks.

Syria's Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS/former Nusrah/AQ) government has vowed (at least publicly) to uphold a shaky ceasefire in Sweida following violent clashes with Druze factions last month, which left hundreds dead.

But as horrific images of persecution and torture of minority groups emerged earlier this summer, it became clear that the jihadist troops under the government have been targeting Druze based on their non-Sunni identity, in ethno-religious genocide. Churches in this southern area have also been burned and destroyed.

This has brought Damascus under greater international scrutinty and spotlight, though Washington has tended to overlook the atrocities carried out also against Christians and Alawites. However, the US did oversee the initial truce which now appears in shambles due to this latest fighting.