The opposition-linked Syrian Observatory for Human Rights added in a Saturday statement that the ISIL insurgents were making gains and seizing control over the Matahen region.

The statement further elaborated that displacement of residents in the city of Jarabels, seized earlier on Friday by armed ISIL mercenaries, continued through Saturday as they beheaded a number of their rival insurgents.

Moreover, in the Aazaz area of Aleppo’s countryside, several foreign-backed militants were also killed when a booby-trapped car exploded at a checkpoint set up by rival insurgents.

Infighting among anti-Damascus insurgents has been intensifying in recent months as the Syrian foreign-sponsored opposition coalition continues to further disintegrate.

The development comes in the run-up to an international conference about the crisis in Syria, which is expected to open in the Swiss city of Montreux on January 22.

Crisis has gripped Syria since March 2011. According to statistics released by the United Nations, more than 100,000 people have been killed and millions of others have been displaced due to the turmoil.

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