Free Syrian Army fighters stand at a former base used by fighters from the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), after ISIS withdrew from the town of Azaz, near the Syrian–Turkish border, on March 11, 2014.

ISIS militants have seized several towns and villages from rival Islamist groups in the Syrian province of Aleppo Reuters News Agency reported, citing a monitoring group.

The advances by ISIS, already in control of large areas of northern and eastern Syria, will pave the way for further westward advances. Its latest gains include the towns of Turkmen Bareh and Akhtarin, 50 km (30 miles) northeast of Aleppo, the Beirut- based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, reported.

A Twitter feed reporting events in Akhtarin said two people had been killed while “resisting” Islamic State’s advance, including a 16-year-old boy. There was no way to verify the report.

 
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