ARA News 

ALEPPO – More than 45 fighters were killed during clashes between Syrian rebel fighters and militants of the Islamic State (ISIS) in the vicinity of the strategic town of Marea in the northern countryside of Aleppo, activists reported on Saturday. 

Speaking to ARA News, media activist Muhammad Harbi said that 27 ISIS militants were killed, while rebel factions lost at least 18 fighters in Saturday’s clashes. 

The town is located within the planned Syria safe zone that has been proposed by the U.S. and Turkey. 

The town of Marea constitutes a main stronghold for Syrian rebel forces in the northern countryside of Aleppo.  

Al-Shamiya Front, backed by other Syrian rebel factions, repelled an attack by ISIS on Friday after killing seven militants and injuring dozens more, rebel commander Saleh al-Zein told ARA News in Aleppo. 

In August, Marea was exposed to a chemical attack by militants of the Islamic State, who have been combatting rebel fighters in the vicinity of the town for months. 

Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) reported that on August 21 it had treated four members of a family who suffered from “breathing difficulties and developed blisters” after a mortar fired by ISIS hit their home in Marea.

The Syrian American Medical Society has also reported receiving 50 patients showing symptoms of chemical exposure.

Reporting by: Taim Khalil

Source: ARA News