According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights’ statement, there was fierce fighting on Saturday between Syrian militants and ISIL terrorists around Marea.

ISIL militants after seizing a number of villages in Aleppo province bordering Turkey in just three days were advancing towards the towns of Marea and Aazaz, both main strongholds of insurgents.

ISIL grew from al-Qaeda's one-time Iraqi branch and originally fought alongside other Syrian insurgent elements, but it was later denounced by al-Qaeda's leader and turned against both al-Qaeda and Syria militants.

Syria has been gripped by a foreign-hatched insurgency war since 2011. According to reports, Western powers and their regional allies - especially Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey - are supporting the militants operating inside Syria.

RA/SHI