Damascus, Sep 5 (IANS): At least 47 militants were killed in rebel-on-rebel battles in Syria's northern province of Aleppo on Saturday, a monitor group reported.

The rebels were killed during battles between an array of militant groups and the Islamic state (IS) in the northern countryside of Aleppo province, Xinhua quoted the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights as saying.

The UK-based watchdog group, which has wide connections in Syria, said the fresh battles in the town of Mare' killed 20 rebels and 27 IS militants.

Mare' is considered one of the most strategic rebel positions in northern Syria. The IS has been trying to storm the town due to its strategic location near the Turkish borders and to cut off the rebel supply lines in northern Aleppo.

A handful of US-trained Syrian rebels, known as the 30th Division, crossed into Syria from Turkey late last month, according to media reports.

The 30th Division aims to reach the town of Mare' to help the out-gunned rebels there to counter the IS attacks.