Syria has IS on the run

PRO-GOVERNMENT forces captured the Islamic State group’s last stronghold in the energy-rich Homs province in central Syria yesterday (AEST), paving the way to advance on the besieged eastern city of Deir el-Zour, state media reported.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights group said 30 IS militants were killed in the last 24 hours of battle for the town of al-Sukhna, in Homs, before it was captured on the weekend by pro-government forces. It says the Russian air force bombed the town first.