ARMY TAKES TOWN FROM ISIL

BEIRUT Syrian government troops backed by Russian airstrikes recaptured a town in Aleppo province from ISIL militants Thursday in a key advance just two days before a U. S. and Russia- engineered ceasefire that is set to take effect in Syria.

In the rebel- held suburb of Daraya, opposition activists said the army escalated its attacks. They dropped dozens of barrel bombs from helicopters on the devastated town located a few kilometres southwest of the Syrian capital, sending plumes of smoke rising into the sky.