27 Daesh militants killed

A battle between Daesh (IS) group militants and rebels for control of an opposition stronghold in northern Syria has killed at least 47 fighters, a monitor said Saturday.

Twenty fighters were killed in the clashes in Aleppo province throughout Friday, along with 27 Daesh men, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

The fighting centred on the town of Marea, a key rebel bastion that Daesh has been trying to capture for months.

The Observatory said fighting was ongoing around the town, which rebel forces still control, as well in villages in the surrounding area.

Marea is one of the most significant rebel-held towns in northern Aleppo and lies on a key supply route running to the Turkish border.

Daesh has targeted the town for months, seeking to expand westwards from territory it already holds in Aleppo province.

Last week, Daesh advanced in the area, seizing five villages from rebel forces around Marea after allegations it had used a chemical agent, possibly mustard gas, in its attacks.

The Daesh advances came despite an agreement between Turkey and the United States to work on the establishment of a Daesh-free zone in northern Aleppo.

In recent days, the US-led air campaign fighting Daesh in Syria has carried out strikes against the group near Marea, according to the Pentagon.

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.