Syrian opposition fighters backed by Turkey announced Thursday (February 23rd) they had taken full control of the town of al-Bab from the "Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant" (ISIL) after weeks of deadly fighting, AFP reported.

Turkey's state-run Anadolu Agency reported that Syrian opposition fighters had overrun the centre of the town, which had been a key ISIL stronghold just 25 kilometres south of the border.

"We are announcing al-Bab completely liberated, and we are now clearing mines from the residential neighbourhoods," said Ahmad Othman, commander of the Sultan Mourad opposition group.

"After hours of fighting, we chased out the last remaining ISIL rank and file that were collapsing after the fierce shelling of their positions," he added.

Field commanders from two other opposition factions in the town – al-Hamza and Mutasem Brigades – confirmed the news of ISIL's ouster from al-Bab.

But the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said ISIL fighters were still present in parts of the town and said the opposition was in control of less than half of it.