Damascus, March 18 (IANS): Syrian troops on Wednesday fully recaptured a contested town in the northern province of Aleppo, dislodging the Al Qaeda-linked Nusra Front and like-minded groups from that strategic point, media reported.

The strategic town of Handarat, about five km north of Aleppo, was captured after the Syrian troops eliminated the last remnants of the "terrorist groups," Xinhua news agency reported citing the state-run SANA news service, but giving no further details.

Intense battles have been taking place in that town, which sits on the road connecting Aleppo with neighbouring Turkey.

Recapturing Handarat is crucial for the Syrian army to tighten the noose on the rebels inside Aleppo city, due to its proximity to the Alcastelo road, the last remaining supply line for the rebels from the northern countryside of Aleppo to the city itself.

In recent weeks, Syrian troops intensified their attacks in the northern countryside of Aleppo in a bid to lay siege on rebel-held areas inside the city to isolate them from the province's countryside, which is adjacent to the Turkish border from where the rebels are getting their support.