Syrian army has advanced to within seven kilometres of the northern Syrian town of Al-Bab which is held by the Islamic State terrorist group. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said, President Bashar al-Assad’s fighters have seized three villages since yesterday.

The Britain-based monitor said, Turkish forces, meanwhile, have gathered to the north of the town. Ten civilians were reportedly killed in Turkish air strikes and shelling in the area yesterday. Al-Bab has come under heavy assault in recent weeks, with Turkish, Russian and Syrian warplanes carrying out strikes in or around the town.