This is John Batchel, reporting on the fighting between the Kurdish forces in Aleppo and the forces representing the regime, the government, in Damascus, Al-Shara's government.

The attack looks to have been launched by the government, the Syrian National Army, against the Kurdish forces who are allied with the U.S.

As Ahmed says, these are two counterterrorism partners to the United States fighting each other.

What is particularly important here is to emphasize that the Al-Sharah government is associated

with al-Qaeda and sometimes with

ISIS. So we're looking at men who have pledged allegiance to the jihadists, attacking the Kurds,

who are a long-time allies of the U.S. against the jihadists. The puzzle is not solved. Here's Ahmed to explain. More of this

certainly tonight and in coming weeks. Fighting, gunfighting in Aleppo between two allies,

question mark. They are allied with the U.S.

They're a U.S. counterterrorism partner since 2015 against the Islamic State.

And the U.S. maintains the presence in northeast Syria and coordinates with the SDF.

But the issue here is following the Syrian government's inclusion into the anti-ISIS coalition back in November

when Shahra visited Washington.

It seems, I mean, in the eyes of the U.S., that two counter-terrorism partners are fighting against

each other.

I mean, also to go back to Bill's point about the attack that killed two U.S. servicemen

back in December is that I think it's too early for the U.S. to label the Syrian government as a counter-terrorism partner

when its own army and security forces are riddled with jihadists.

And they still can't maintain control over these forces.

And these forces who still have ideological allegiance to either the Islamic State or

al-Qa'a'a'a. But for the U.S., I think they've tried to

not take a side in these clashes. They're calling for stability and

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