简体中文
The Syrian troops killed over 60 of the Islamic State (IS) militants in the eastern province of Deir al-Zour on Tuesday, the state news agency SANA said.
The Syrian troops killed the IS fighters in the areas of Muria, Jafra and Huwaijat al-Saqer in Deir al-Zour, said SANA, spelling no further details.
The IS, locally known as Daesh, has recently attacked these areas and taken control of large parts of them due to their strategic location near the main military airbase of Deir al-Zour, where the Syrian troops and IS are launching ferocious battles.
The airbase of Deir al-Zour is the last remaining lifeline of the government troops in that oil-rich province, large chunks of which fell under the IS control in recent months.
Meanwhile, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the Syrian air force carried out two airstrikes against the IS positions near the city of al-Mayadeen in Deir al-Zour, killing five leaders of the IS.
Separately, the Observatory report said 80 fighters of the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front and like-minded groups were killed over the past two days as a result of the Syrian airstrikes and clashes at the military bases of Wadi al-Daif and Hamdiyeh in the northwestern province of Idlib.
The al-Qaida groups succeeded Monday to capture the two bases after the withdrawal of the Syrian troops, said the report, adding that over 100 Syrian soldiers and officers were killed during the clashes.
The crisis has become more complicated when the radical groups capitalized on the chaotic situation in order to achieve territorial gains.
Over 190,000 Syrian people have been killed so far, while millions of others sought refuge in neighboring countries. Enditem
