The UN has begun investigating allegations that rebel forces executed Syrian soldiers after capturing them in Khan al-Assal; the Al Nusrah Front participated in battle there. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights called for the release of Father Paolo Dall’Oglio, who is being held by the Islamic State of Iraq in the Levant; the priest disappeared after meeting with ISIL to negotiate the freedom of several hostages. Fighters from Al Nusrah, ISIL, and allied rebel groups battled regime forces near Aleppo Central Prison. At least 12 Islamist fighters and 22 Kurdish fighters were killed in clashes in Hasakah. A senior Palestinian source said that at a high-level meeting in July, Hamas, Hezbollah, and Islamic Jihad agreed to disagree over Syria but to maintain Hamas-Hezbollah ties.
