The Syrian army and its allies took the village of Soran located east of Aleppo, on Sunday, state media and a military media unit run by Hezbollah reported, bringing them closer to territory held by Turkey-backed rebels.
 
Several overlapping conflicts are being fought in Syria, dragging in regional and global powers as well as the government and local groups, complicating the battlefield in the north of the country and raising the risk of an escalation in the war.
 
The main struggle in Syria's civil war is between President Bashar al-Assad, backed by Iran, Russia and Shi'ite militias including the Lebanese Hezbollah, against rebels that include groups backed by Turkey, Gulf monarchies and the United States.
 
However, both those sides, as well as a separate group of Kurdish-led militias, are also fighting against Islamic State and retaking territory which the jihadist group controls in northern Syria.
 
The village of Soran is located 16km (10 miles) southwest of al-Bab, which rebels supported by Turkish jets, armor and special forces are attempting to capture from Islamic State after reaching its outskirts a month ago.