Syrian army captures last IS stronghold in eastern Aleppo

Syrian army and allied fighters on Sunday captured the last Islamic State (IS) stronghold in the northern province of Aleppo, a monitor group reported.

The Syrian army and fighters of Hezbollah, backed by Russia, entered the town of Maskanah, the last IS stronghold in Aleppo province, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Located in the southeastern countryside of Aleppo, capturing Maskanah is the latest in a string of successful operations the army and its allies to end the presence of IS in Aleppo.

The Observatory, which says it relies on a network of activists on ground, said the army has been combing the town since early Sunday in search of explosives and roadside bombs.

It added that the IS fighters and their families withdrew form the town before the army could place a full siege on it, following cutting the road between the town and northern province of Raqqa, the de facto capital of IS.

The wide-scale military offensive in the countryside of Aleppo was unleashed on Jan. 17, after the army forces wrested back control over the entire city of Aleppo city.

Now, the Syrian army is also active in the Syrian desert against IS, capturing large swathes of territories from the terror-designated group.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)