Islamist terrorists and a US-backed alliance of Kurds and Arabs have fought a fresh spate of deadly clashes in Syria, a monitor said Monday, as the almost five-year-old conflict draws in more local and international players.

At least 23 fighters were killed in the fighting between the Kurdish-led alliance and the Islamist  who include Al-Qaeda's Syrian affiliate, Al-Nusra Front, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.