Activists say Syrian rebels have fully captured a northern town near the Turkish border after weeks of siege and heavy fighting, The Associated Press reports.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says the rebels captured Harem in Idlib province in the early hours of Tuesday, Dec 25.

Mohammed Kanaan, an Idlib-based activist, said the last post to be taken in the town was the historic citadel that the army had turned into a military post.

"Harem is fully liberated now," Kanaan he said via Skype, according to the AP.

Rebels have taken wide areas along the border with Turkey over the past months.