Fighting between rebels and Islamic State (IS) militants around the strategic Syrian town of Marea has left 47 dead, according to activists.
The UK-based Syria Observatory for Human Rights said that 27 IS fighters were killed, with the rest being from other anti-government groups.
Marea lies in an area that Turkey and the US have reportedly wanted to turn into an IS-free “safe zone”.
Last month it was alleged IS had used chemical weapons in an attack on Marea.
Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) said that on 21 August it had treated four members of a family who suffered from breathing difficulties and developed blisters after a mortar hit their home in Marea.
The Syrian American Medical Society has also reported receiving 50 patients showing symptoms of chemical exposure.
Local rebels say the shells were fired from an IS-held village to the east.
