IS Grabs Area From Syrian Rebels

BEIRUT (AP) -- Syrian activists say the Islamic State group has seized at least six villages from Syrian rebels near the Turkish border.

The rapid advances bring the militants closer to the border town of Azaz, where rebels hold an enclave that is hosting tens of thousands of internally displaced civilians.

In recent months, Syrian rebel factions in Azaz, which lies north of the city of Aleppo, have separately come under fire from the IS extremist group, pro-government forces and the predominantly Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says Friday's advance effectively cuts off a key supply route between Azaz and Marea, another opposition stronghold.

The IS group's news agency also reported the advance.

(KA)