Turkey on Monday (November 14th) closed a border crossing with Syria in the province of Kilis after violent clashes in the Syrian town of Azaz, AFP reported.

The border gate remains open only for ambulances, a local official said.

Turkish media reported that the closure of the Oncupinar border crossing, which faces Bab al-Salama inside Syria, was a "temporary" security measure after clashes on Syrian soil.

Azaz is one of many Syrian villages and towns taken by opposition fighters since an offensive targeting the "Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant" (ISIL) supported by Turkey began August 24th.

Kilis governor Ismail Catakli said the border was closed to humanitarian aid and trade traffic "due to developments on the other side of the border", the Dogan news agency reported.

It was unclear when the border crossing would reopen.

Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus said Syrian opposition fighters had advanced "closer to al-Bab", a town held by ISIL, adding that Turkey had resumed aerial support to help opposition forces.

On Sunday, Syrian opposition and Turkish forces were just two kilometres from al-Bab, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.