IS jihadists seize key Syrian town

BEIRUT   ;Islamic State jihadists seize control
of a key town in the central Syrian province of
homs over night after heavy clashes with forces
loyal to President Bashar al-Assad, a monitor
said on Thursday..

The violent group started the attack on Wednesday
 .morning when three suicide bomber targeted pro
regime check-points at entrances to the city according
to the Britain Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

"IS seize Al Qaryatain town in the southeastern
countryside of homs after violent clashes with
pro regime forces and loyalist fighters "Observatory
chief Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP.

A total of 37 regime soldiers and loyalist fighters
were killed ,while 23 IS fighters also died,Abdel
Rahman said.

He said the town held strategic importance because
of its location along a road linking the ancient city
of Palmyra which has been held by IS militants since
May with Qaamun region in Damascus province.

"The control of Al-Qaryatain allows IS to ink the
areas under its control in the eastern countryside
of Qalamun ,and  allows it to transfer fighters
and supplies between the two regions "Abdel
Rahman said,

The ongoing clashes between  government troops
and the jihadist group are one of many fronts in
Syria's complex warwhich has left more than
230,000 people dead since it began in March
2011.AFP