Syria rebels lay siege to ISIS jihadists in Raqa

 Rebel fighters were laying siege Monday to Al-Qaeda-linked jihadists in their northern stronghold of Raqa, managing to free 50 people they had detained, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Raqa emerged as a new front Sunday in fighting between rebels battling to oust President Bashar al-Assad, with various groups joining forces against Al-Qaeda affiliate the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS).

"The rebels have been laying siege to ISIS's headquarters in the city of Raqa since last night. They released 50 Syrian prisoners held by ISIS in another building," said the Observatory.

Raqa is the only provincial capital to have fallen out of regime hands since the devastating conflict broke out in March 2011. AFP