The Islamic State group, also referred to as ISIS, have captured several villages which were under the control of Syrian rebels in Aleppo province near the Turkish border, Agence France-Presse reported on Thursday.
Clashes between Syrian rebels and ISIS militants have intensified along the Turkish border recently even as the peace talks aimed at ending the five-year-long civil war are underway in Geneva, Switzerland.
One of the villages that ISIS seized was Hiwar Kallis, which is located about one km south of the Turkish border, Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights director Rami Abdel Rahman said.
"Fierce clashes are raging between rebels and IS after the jihadists secured an advance and seized control of six villages near the Turkish border," the (SOHR) said.
"Clashes continue between IS and rebels in the northern countryside near the Turkish borders, the IS advanced and took control on Hawar Kels and several villages in the area amid bombardment by the coalition warplanes on the area, [SIC]" according to a SOHR report.
More than 270,000 people have been killed and millions others have been displaced internally and externally both since the inception of the civil war in March 2011. The United Nations has been trying to bring an end to the war and has started peace talks involving the President Bashar al-Assad-led government and the main opposition in Syria.
