Isis in Syria: Fighters take control of main checkpoint into Aleppo

Islamic State (IS) has taken control of a major checkpoint in the Syrian city of Aleppo, amateur footage posted on the internet appears to show. A video clip said to have been filmed on Sunday (25 October) purports to show the chaotic state of what appears to be a Syrian Army checkpoint after it was taken over by IS fighters. A caption on the video reads: "A Syrian Army checkpoint situated on the road between Ithriya and Khanaser south of Aleppo, after Islamic State took control of it. October 25, 2015."

One IS fighter is seen in the video speaking to camera: "The apostate regime has been defeated on Khanaser-Ithriya highway, and thank God for his generosity we were able to gain spoils from them; 12 checkpoints on the main road. And this is the regime's artery (referring to the supply route) with the Mujahideen's hands, we step on it with our soles and under our feet and God willing not one bullet will reach the regime in Aleppo."

Another clip, uploaded to the internet on Monday (26 October), shows rebels engaging in heavy combat with fighters described as Syrian regime forces on Sheikh Saiid front in Aleppo. Rebels targeted regime bases in M'amal al-Ismint southern Aleppo on Sunday. The last clip appears to show a series of explosions and plumes of thick white smoke.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights on Saturday (24 October) said the main supply route into government-held areas of Aleppo had been cut off by fierce fighting between Syrian government forces and Islamic State, adding that IS fighters launched an attack on a road southeast of the northern city on Friday (23 October) morning, initially detonating two car bombs. The Observatory, which reports on the Syrian war through a network of sources on the ground, said several dozen combatants from both sides had been killed.

There was no mention of the battle on Syrian state media, which reported that government forces had seized control of the village of al-Jaboul in a nearby area. Syrian officials could not immediately be reached for comment. Aleppo is divided into a western section controlled by the government, and an eastern section held by insurgents.