Sputnik Correspondent: Daesh Advancing Along Turkish-Syrian Border

Daesh (ISIL/ISIS) militants have captured five villages from Free Syrian Army (FSA) forces in northern Aleppo province near the Turkish border, Sputnik Turkey correspondent Hikmet Durgun reports.

The jihadists are using heavy weapons and ammunition brought in from the terrorist-occupied cities of Minbic and Jarabulus, Durgun said, in his report for Sputnik Turkey. In the midst of the advance, Syrian civilians have been fleeing toward the Oncupinar border post in the province of Kilis, Turkey, which hosts a major refugee camp.

"Daesh militants have begun a large-scale, three-pronged attack on FSA forces, the latter supported by Turkey and aircraft from the [US-led] antiterrorist coalition. From Wednesday night into Thursday, Daesh has captured five villages previously under the control of the FSA," Durgun noted.

During the fighting, the correspondent said, Western coalition planes have continued their mass attacks on Daesh positions, while Turkish artillery has pounded the jihadists from howitzers on the Turkish side of the border.

Daesh's increased activity in the border area has led to a surge in the flow of Syrian villagers fleeing the fighting toward the Kilis Oncupinar Accommodation Facility, a large refugee camp hosting thousands of Syrian refugees. Reports suggest that Daesh militants have approached the tent camp, located in southern Turkey about 8 km from the border with Syria.