Shelling reported near north Syria's Raqa city despite ceasefire with Kurds

A monitor says clashes erupted this evening between government troops and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces near northern Syria’s Raqa city, a day after the sides agreed to a ceasefire.

The AFP correspondent in Raqa reports the sound of heavy bombardment, while the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reports “clashes between government forces and the Syrian Democratic Forces stationed at Al-Aqtan prison,” on the city’s outskirts, adding that government forces also shelled an SDF military position north of the city.

A Kurdish source with knowledge of the talks tells AFP on condition of anonymity that direct negotiations were held today between Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and SDF chief Mazloum Abdi, but were not positive.