Radical jihadists have begun withdrawing from parts of northern Syria after a threat from rivals, to try to protect their stronghold in the east of the war-ravaged country.
The main bloc in Syria's opposition in exile, meanwhile, announced it would rejoin the umbrella coalition it split from in a bid to close ranks against the regime.
Al-Qaeda-affiliated Al-Nusra Front has threatened the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant with all-out war if it does not submit by Saturday to mediation by an Islamic court over allegations ISIL assassinated an Islamist commander close to Al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri.
Since January, ISIL has been battling a coalition of moderate and Islamist rebels angered by its abuses of rival fighters and civilians, but Al-Nusra had largely stayed out of the fray.
The prospect of the powerful Al-Nusra joining with ISIL's opponents appears to have prompted the group to withdraw to its stronghold in the eastern city of Raqa, the only provincial capital lost by the regime in the three-year civil war.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said ISIL had on Friday pulled back from positions in northern Aleppo province, including the key town of Aazaz.
"ISIL has withdrawn from Aazaz, its most important bastion in Aleppo province, as well as the Minnigh military airport, the Mayer region and the villages of Deir Jamal and Kafin," the Britain-based Observatory said.
"Aleppo region is their weakest link, so they fear being attacked there" by Al-Nusra and other rebels after the deadline expires, Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP.
"ISIL is heading to areas that neighbour Raqa province where it has its main stronghold in the city of Raqa," he said.
ISIL fighters had regrouped on the far eastern border of Aleppo province and close to Raqa.
After the withdrawal from Aazaz, which ISIL seized in September, the Observatory said a possible mass grave was found in the city.
The withdrawal was confirmed by the opposition Aazaz Media Centre, which claimed it as a victory for rival rebel fighters.
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