The clashes were followed by a large-scale operation staged by the terrorists, who finally took control of the four villages, including Jarez, Sheikh, and Al-Bel, previously controlled by Free Syrian Army units.
Upon capturing these villages, the terrorists have approached the strategic Syrian city of Azaz, located not far from the Turkish city of Kilis. Currently, the jihadists are deployed within a 4-kilometer radius of Azaz.
When staging attacks against Free Syrian Army soldiers, Daesh reportedly used heavy weapons delivered from the cities of Manbij and Jarabulus in northern Aleppo.
Meanwhile, the anti-terrorist coalition's warplanes continued their airstrikes on Daesh positions in the region, with the Turkish military shelling the jihadists' strongholds in border areas.
MAP Military situation in North #Aleppo 17/5/16.#FSA take control Al-Bel from #ISIS
— Military Advisor (@miladvisor) 17 мая 2016 г.
HD link: https://t.co/QE7DJxzRHG pic.twitter.com/9i4muJ8LH3
Earlier this month, legal advisor to the Free Syrian Army Osama Abu Zeid said that relative calm has been observed in Aleppo since the "silent" ceasefire period entered into force there in May.
Syria has been mired in civil war since 2011, with government forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar Assad fighting numerous opposition factions and extremist groups.
A US-Russia-brokered ceasefire came into force across Syria on February 27, but it does not apply to terrorist organizations active in the country, such as Daesh and the al-Nusra Front, which are outlawed in many countries, including Russia.
Despite the ceasefire agreement, violence has escalated in Syria in recent weeks, especially in the northern Aleppo region.
