Militants from the rebel group entered the rebel-held town of Marea early on Saturday, using at least two auto bombs in the assault, and clashes continued later in the day, the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
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The coalition is meanwhile backing fighters, including the powerful Kurdish YPG militia, in an offensive against IS in the northern countryside of neighbouring Raqqa province, which is home to the group’s de facto capital, Raqqa city.
Although Turkey says it has an open-door policy for Syrians fleeing war, the border remains closed to all but the most severely injured, and Turkish police have shot refugees trying to cross illegally. Since mid-January, Daesh rockets have been targeting towns and cities in southern Turkey, close to the Syrian frontier.
At least 22 ISIS members were killed in the clashes, where heavy weapons have been used by both sides. The IRC also relocated its staff from the centers and the camp to safer areas of Azaz until the situation enables them to return.
“The displaced arrived last night in areas in the west and north of Aleppo province under the control of the Syrian Democratic Forces”, Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman said.
The offensive brought ISIL within 5 kilometers (3 miles) of Azaz, a town near the border with Turkey through which insurgents have been supplied.
The SDF is an alliance of Kurdish and Arab fighters that Washington regards as the most effective force on the ground in Syria against the jihadists of IS.
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“Fleeing civilians are being caught in crossfire and are facing challenges to access medical services, food, water and safety”, it said in a statement Saturday.
