Special to WorldTribune.com

NICOSIA — Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant has approached Syria’s largest city.

Opposition sources said ISIL was capturing rebel-held towns in its advance toward Aleppo. They said ISIL, in what appeared to mark cooperation with the Syrian military, was moving within 50 kilometers of Aleppo, the last rebel-held city in Syria.

“ISIL has captured villages and towns northeast of Aleppo,” the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

In a report on Aug. 13, Syrian Observatory said ISIL was targeting communities long under the control of the Saudi-financed Islamic Front and Nusra Front for the Defense of Levant. They were identified as Akhtarin and Turkmen Bareh.

The sources said ISIL was not being hampered by the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad. They said Assad’s military and security forces, despite heavy fighting in the neighboring provinces of Dir Al Zour and Raqa, were allowing ISIL to capture rebel strongholds.

“It is clear that with the exception of the oil fields [in Dir Al Zour], there is close cooperation between Daash [ISIL] and the regime,” an opposition source said.

The ISIL advance was expected to continue toward Mare, deemed the most important stronghold of the Islamic Front. ISIL was said to have been aided by widespread defections from rival militias, including the Daoud Brigade.

The brigade has been in control of large areas of the Aleppo countryside.

“This also opens the way to the city of Azaz, expected to be the next target of ISIL,” Syrian Observatory said.

  Daoud Brigade, Islamic Front, Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Syrian regime said cooperating with ISIL advance on rebel-held Aleppo