The Al-Qaeda-affiliated radical group the Islmaic State of Iraq and Greater Syria on Wednesday took control of the town of Maskenh, near Aleppo city, after fierce clashes with the Islamist Ahrar al-Sham movement, opposition activists reported.
Ahrar al-Sham is understood to be mobilizing units to retaliate against the ISIS offensive and retake the city.
Reports said intensive mediation efforst are underway by other Islamic groups to avoid further bloodshed between the two radical movements after tensions between the groups escalated over the last few days.
In an important development, Ahrar al-Sham recently merged recently with several Syrian rebel factions to form the Islamic Front.
Although the political and military opposition has long been fragmented, the new umbrella organization brings seven groups together with a combined force of 45,000-60,000 fighters under one command, Middle East experts say.
Translated and edited by The Syrian Observer
......
