Coalition aircraft dropped ammunition to Syrian opposition groups fighting the "Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant" (ISIL) in northern Aleppo as they try to prevent the extremists from entering the town of Marea, AFP reported Friday (June 3rd).

"The coalition airplanes dropped, in the last 24 hours, ammunitions, light weapons and anti-tank weapons to rebels in Marea," Syrian Observatory for Human Rights chief Rami Abdel Rahman said.

He said it was the first time the coalition had made such a drop to opposition fighters other than the Kurds, although a US defence official denied this.

The official confirmed the drops, but said they did not include light weapons or anti-tank weapons.

ISIL fighters swept through opposition-held territory in Aleppo province late last month, cutting off the main road between Marea and Azaz.

ISIL's advance forced thousands to flee towards the northern frontier with Turkey.

The UN said it was "deeply concerned over the fate of an estimated 8,000 Syrians trapped by fighting around the towns of Marea and Sheikh Issa".

An unknown number of people are unable to flee due to fighting and the closure of the main road between Marea and Azaz, it added.