The Islamic State group had lost ground Saturday in a town on the Syrian-Iraqi border after pro-regime forces repelled a major attack the day before, a Britain-based monitor said.

Violent clashes were ongoing in Albu Kamal, which lies in the Euphrates Valley in eastern Syria, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said.

"IS has retreated from inside the town to its western and northwestern parts" after pro-regime forces pushed back the jihadists, Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman said.

Pro-government reinforcements had arrived, he said.

On Friday, IS used at least 10 suicide bombers in its offensive on Albu Kamal, swiftly taking several of its neighbourhoods, the monitor said.&nbsp

It was the biggest attack on the town since the jihadist group lost it in November 2017, and the latest in a string of attacks by IS across Syria.

Neither Syrian state media nor the army reported Friday's attack on Albu Kamal.

The fighting in the town over the past 24 hours has killed 30 pro-regime fighters, the Observatory said.

These include 16 regime troops among them a general, as well as 14 non-Syrian combattants, notably Iranians and Lebanese Hezbollah movement fighters, the monitor said.

Twenty-one IS jihadists were also killed in that same period, including the 10 suicide bombers, according to the same source.

IS has ramped up its attacks against pro-regime forces since its fighters in May left their last bastion near Damascus under an evacuation deal with the regime.

IS in 2014 proclaimed a cross-border "caliphate" in Syria and neighbouring Iraq, but has since lost most of its territory to various military offensives.

Its presence is mostly confined to pockets of eastern Syria in the vast desert stretching from the country's centre to the border with Iraq.

Earlier this week, IS assaults in the eastern province of Deir Ezzor killed 45 pro-regime fighters.

On Thursday, IS jihadists also killed 22 pro-regime fighters in surprise attacks in the southern province of Sweida, a monitor said.

Violent clashes were ongoing in Albu Kamal, which lies in the Euphrates Valley in eastern Syria, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said

The Islamic State group had lost ground Saturday in a town on the Syrian-Iraqi border after pro-regime forces repelled a major attack the day before, a Britain-based monitor said. Violent clashes were ongoing in Albu Kamal, which lies in the Euphrates Valley in eastern Syria, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said. "IS has retreated from inside the town to its western and northwestern parts" after pro-regime forces pushed back the jihadists, Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman said. Pro-government reinforcements had arrived, he said. On Friday, IS used at least 10 suicide bombers in its offensive on Albu Kamal, swiftly taking several of its neighbourhoods, the monitor said. It was the biggest attack on the town since the jihadist group lost it in November 2017, and the latest in a string of attacks by IS across Syria. Neither Syrian state media nor the army reported Friday's attack on Albu Kamal. The fighting in the town over the past 24 hours has killed 30 pro-regime fighters, the Observatory said. These include 16 regime troops among them a general, as well as 14 non-Syrian combattants, notably Iranians and Lebanese Hezbollah movement fighters, the monitor said. Twenty-one IS jihadists were also killed in that same period, including the 10 suicide bombers, according to the same source. IS has ramped up its attacks against pro-regime forces since its fighters in May left their last bastion near Damascus under an evacuation deal with the regime. IS in 2014 proclaimed a cross-border "caliphate" in Syria and neighbouring Iraq, but has since lost most of its territory to various military offensives. Its presence is mostly confined to pockets of eastern Syria in the vast desert stretching from the country's centre to the border with Iraq. Earlier this week, IS assaults in the eastern province of Deir Ezzor killed 45 pro-regime fighters. On Thursday, IS jihadists also killed 22 pro-regime fighters in surprise attacks in the southern province of Sweida, a monitor said.

IS jihadists lose ground in Syria town after major attack: Monitor

Russian air strikes on Sunday killed 34 civilians, among them 15 children, in a village held by the Islamic State group in Syria&#39;s eastern Deir Ezzor province, a monitor said.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the strikes hit the village of Al-Shafah, on the eastern bank of the Euphrates River, in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The Observatory relies on a network of sources inside Syria, and says it determines whose planes carry out raids according to type, location, flight patterns and munitions used.

Russia is a close ally of Syria&#39;s President Bashar al-Assad, and in September 2015 began a military intervention in support of his government that has gradually helped Damascus regain territory.

Syria&#39;s Deir Ezzor is one of the last places Islamic State jihadists hold territory in the country, after being driven from their major strongholds including their one-time de facto Syrian capital Raqa city.

The oil-rich eastern province that borders Iraq was once almost completely under Islamic State control, but the jihadists now hold just nine percent of Deir Ezzor, according to the Observatory.

They have faced two separate offensives there, one led by the regime with Russian backing and the other by the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, an alliance of Kurdish and Arab fighters.

More than 340,000 people have been killed in Syria since the conflict began in March 2011 with anti-government protests.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that the strikes hit the village of Al-Shafah, on the eastern bank of the Euphrates River, in the early hours of Sunday morning

Russian air strikes on Sunday killed 34 civilians, among them 15 children, in a village held by the Islamic State group in Syria's eastern Deir Ezzor province, a monitor said. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the strikes hit the village of Al-Shafah, on the eastern bank of the Euphrates River, in the early hours of Sunday morning. The Observatory relies on a network of sources inside Syria, and says it determines whose planes carry out raids according to type, location, flight patterns and munitions used. Russia is a close ally of Syria's President Bashar al-Assad, and in September 2015 began a military intervention in support of his government that has gradually helped Damascus regain territory. Syria's Deir Ezzor is one of the last places Islamic State jihadists hold territory in the country, after being driven from their major strongholds including their one-time de facto Syrian capital Raqa city. The oil-rich eastern province that borders Iraq was once almost completely under Islamic State control, but the jihadists now hold just nine percent of Deir Ezzor, according to the Observatory. They have faced two separate offensives there, one led by the regime with Russian backing and the other by the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, an alliance of Kurdish and Arab fighters. More than 340,000 people have been killed in Syria since the conflict began in March 2011 with anti-government protests.

Russian strikes kill 34 civilians in Syria's Deir Ezzor: Monitor

Syrian troops Saturday broke the Islamic State group&#39;s siege of the eastern Deir Ezzor military airport, state media reported, days after ending another siege on residential districts of the city.&nbsp;

State news agency SANA said the breach came &quot;after the forces advancing from the cemetery southwest of the city linked up with the forces holding the airbase&quot;.&nbsp;

The troops had launched a new push on Friday towards the besieged &nbsp;military airport, as part of its multi-pronged offensive to retake the whole eastern city from the jihadists.

Since 2014, IS has held swathes of Deir Ezzor province, which borders Iraq, and about 60 percent of the provincial capital.

Jihadists had encircled two regime-held enclaves in the western half of Deir Ezzor city, and the army on Tuesday broke through one of the besieged pockets.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also confirmed troops had breached the siege.&nbsp;

&quot;By breaking the siege on the military airport regime forces have been able to link up all the neighbourhoods they hold in western parts of Deir Ezzor city,&quot; the Britain-based monitor said. 
&nbsp;

Since 2014, IS has held swathes of Deir Ezzor province, which borders Iraq, and about 60% of the provincial capital

Syrian troops Saturday broke the Islamic State group's siege of the eastern Deir Ezzor military airport, state media reported, days after ending another siege on residential districts of the city. State news agency SANA said the breach came "after the forces advancing from the cemetery southwest of the city linked up with the forces holding the airbase". The troops had launched a new push on Friday towards the besieged military airport, as part of its multi-pronged offensive to retake the whole eastern city from the jihadists. Since 2014, IS has held swathes of Deir Ezzor province, which borders Iraq, and about 60 percent of the provincial capital. Jihadists had encircled two regime-held enclaves in the western half of Deir Ezzor city, and the army on Tuesday broke through one of the besieged pockets. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also confirmed troops had breached the siege. "By breaking the siege on the military airport regime forces have been able to link up all the neighbourhoods they hold in western parts of Deir Ezzor city," the Britain-based monitor said.

Syria army breaks IS siege on Deir Ezzor air base: State media

An alliance of Arab and Kurdish fighters seized more than a dozen villages in eastern Syria on Tuesday in their drive to encircle the Islamic State group bastion of Raqa.&nbsp;

The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) made a major incursion into the oil-rich province of Deir Ezzor as part of their push for Raqa, field commander Dejwar Khabat said.&nbsp;

&quot;Our aim is to cut the road to Raqa and besiege IS... We have liberated 15 villages,&quot; Khabat said Tuesday in the town of Makmaneh, which lies on a major highway approximately 100 kilometres (60 miles) east of Raqa city.&nbsp;

He said the IS was dispatching suicide bombers but had not been able to slow the offensive.&nbsp;

SDF fighters on Tuesday set up their base on a hilltop in Makmaneh, digging trenches around it to prevent suicide bombers or car bombs from reaching them. &nbsp;

Backed by air strikes from the US-led coalition, the SDF has seized swathes of territory in northern Syria from the jihadists.&nbsp;

It launched its offensive for Raqa,&nbsp;the de facto Syrian capital of IS&#39;s so-called caliphate,&nbsp;in early November.

Deir Ezzor province lies just east of Raqa, and is almost completely held by IS. The jihadists also hold most of the provincial capital by the same name, and have been battling regime forces to overrun the city.&nbsp;

The SDF alliance is dominated by the Kurdish People&#39;s Protection Units (YPG), but it also boasts several units of Arab fighters.&nbsp;

&quot;We have entered the first villages of Deir Ezzor province,&quot; said Abu Khawlah, who heads the 1,700-strong Deir Ezzor Military Council, an Arab component of the SDF.&nbsp;

&quot;Our entry into Deir Ezzor was a big surprise (for IS), and thre will be more surprises coming,&quot; he said.&nbsp;

The SDF, which has been lobbying for weapons to help them carry out the offensive, has recently received armoured SUVs from the United States.

A US-led coalition has been carrying out air strikes on IS in Syria and neighbouring Iraq since 2014.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Tuesday&#39;s advance was the SDF&#39;s &quot;biggest incursion&quot; yet into Deir Ezzor province.&nbsp;

It also reported 11 people killed on Tuesday in unidentified air strikes on a gas station and parking garage in an IS-held village in the province. &nbsp;

&quot;The death toll could rise because there are at least 35 people wounded, some of them in critical condition,&quot; monitor head Rami Abdel Rahman said.&nbsp;

He could not specify which airplanes had carried out the bombing raids.

The province has been targeted in the past by both the US-led coalition and regime ally Russia, who has been waging an air war in support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad since September 2015.&nbsp;

More than 310,000 people have been killed since Syria&#39;s conflict erupted in March 2011 with protests calling for Assad&#39;s ouster.&nbsp;

(AFP)

The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) made a major incursion into the oil-rich province of Deir Ezzor as part of their push for Raqqa

An alliance of Arab and Kurdish fighters seized more than a dozen villages in eastern Syria on Tuesday in their drive to encircle the Islamic State group bastion of Raqa. The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) made a major incursion into the oil-rich province of Deir Ezzor as part of their push for Raqa, field commander Dejwar Khabat said. "Our aim is to cut the road to Raqa and besiege IS... We have liberated 15 villages," Khabat said Tuesday in the town of Makmaneh, which lies on a major highway approximately 100 kilometres (60 miles) east of Raqa city. He said the IS was dispatching suicide bombers but had not been able to slow the offensive. SDF fighters on Tuesday set up their base on a hilltop in Makmaneh, digging trenches around it to prevent suicide bombers or car bombs from reaching them. Backed by air strikes from the US-led coalition, the SDF has seized swathes of territory in northern Syria from the jihadists. It launched its offensive for Raqa, the de facto Syrian capital of IS's so-called caliphate, in early November. Deir Ezzor province lies just east of Raqa, and is almost completely held by IS. The jihadists also hold most of the provincial capital by the same name, and have been battling regime forces to overrun the city. The SDF alliance is dominated by the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), but it also boasts several units of Arab fighters. "We have entered the first villages of Deir Ezzor province," said Abu Khawlah, who heads the 1,700-strong Deir Ezzor Military Council, an Arab component of the SDF. "Our entry into Deir Ezzor was a big surprise (for IS), and thre will be more surprises coming," he said. The SDF, which has been lobbying for weapons to help them carry out the offensive, has recently received armoured SUVs from the United States. A US-led coalition has been carrying out air strikes on IS in Syria and neighbouring Iraq since 2014. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Tuesday's advance was the SDF's "biggest incursion" yet into Deir Ezzor province. It also reported 11 people killed on Tuesday in unidentified air strikes on a gas station and parking garage in an IS-held village in the province. "The death toll could rise because there are at least 35 people wounded, some of them in critical condition," monitor head Rami Abdel Rahman said. He could not specify which airplanes had carried out the bombing raids. The province has been targeted in the past by both the US-led coalition and regime ally Russia, who has been waging an air war in support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad since September 2015. More than 310,000 people have been killed since Syria's conflict erupted in March 2011 with protests calling for Assad's ouster. (AFP)

US-backed fighters advance on IS in eastern Syria

The Islamic State group launched a ferocious assault Saturday on a city in eastern Syria, leaving more than 30 jihadists and regime fighters dead, a monitoring group said.

At least 12 members of government forces and 20 IS militants were among the dead in the IS attack on regime positions in Deir Ezzor, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Both the Observatory and Syrian state news agency SANA said two civilians were also killed in IS rocket fire on government-controlled zones in the city.&nbsp;

Around 200,000 people live in Deir Ezzor city, which has been besieged by IS since early 2015 and is the capital of the oil-rich province of the same name.

IS has sought to overrun the entire city, including the key nearby military airport.&nbsp;

Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman said Saturday`s attack was the &quot;most violent&quot; assault mounted by IS on the city in more than a year.&nbsp;

He said IS was using tunnel bombs and suicide attackers, while Syrian and allied warplanes battered jihadist positions with air strikes.

&quot;Daesh is amassing its forces to attack Deir Ezzor and breach government lines,&quot; a Syrian military source told AFP, using the Arabic acronym for IS.

He said jihadists had aimed to cut the route between the airport and the city, but that the government`s counter-attack had stopped IS.&nbsp;

&quot;Warplanes attacked Daesh`s supply lines in all the battlefronts and around the airport,&quot; he said.

IS is excluded from a nationwide truce that was brokered by Turkey and Russia and came into effect on December 30.&nbsp;

Diplomatic efforts to end Syria`s nearly six-year war have thus far failed, but Moscow and Ankara are hoping that peace talks in the Kazakh capital of Astana later this month will lead to a political solution.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

(AFP)

At least 12 members of government forces and 20 IS militants were among the dead in the IS attack on regime positions in Deir Ezzor

The Islamic State group launched a ferocious assault Saturday on a city in eastern Syria, leaving more than 30 jihadists and regime fighters dead, a monitoring group said. At least 12 members of government forces and 20 IS militants were among the dead in the IS attack on regime positions in Deir Ezzor, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Both the Observatory and Syrian state news agency SANA said two civilians were also killed in IS rocket fire on government-controlled zones in the city. Around 200,000 people live in Deir Ezzor city, which has been besieged by IS since early 2015 and is the capital of the oil-rich province of the same name. IS has sought to overrun the entire city, including the key nearby military airport. Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman said Saturday`s attack was the "most violent" assault mounted by IS on the city in more than a year. He said IS was using tunnel bombs and suicide attackers, while Syrian and allied warplanes battered jihadist positions with air strikes. "Daesh is amassing its forces to attack Deir Ezzor and breach government lines," a Syrian military source told AFP, using the Arabic acronym for IS. He said jihadists had aimed to cut the route between the airport and the city, but that the government`s counter-attack had stopped IS. "Warplanes attacked Daesh`s supply lines in all the battlefronts and around the airport," he said. IS is excluded from a nationwide truce that was brokered by Turkey and Russia and came into effect on December 30. Diplomatic efforts to end Syria`s nearly six-year war have thus far failed, but Moscow and Ankara are hoping that peace talks in the Kazakh capital of Astana later this month will lead to a political solution. (AFP)

30 dead as IS attacks city in east Syria, says monitor

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IS jihadists lose ground in Syria town after major attack: Monitor

Russian strikes kill 34 civilians in Syria's Deir Ezzor: Monitor

Syria army breaks IS siege on Deir Ezzor air base: State media

US-backed fighters advance on IS in eastern Syria

30 dead as IS attacks city in east Syria, says monitor