Air strikes, clashes hit IS pocket in south Syria

BEIRUT: Russian air strikes and fierce clashes yesterday rocked a sliver of territory in southwestern Syria held by the Islamic State group, a war monitor said.

Much of the southern province of Daraa had been quiet since Friday, when a ceasefire between rebels and Syria’s regime ended a nearly three-week government assault.

But a local branch of IS, known as Jaish Khaled bin Walid and based in a small area in Daraa’s western countryside, was not included in the deal.

Early yesterday, Russian warplanes began pounding the IS-controlled town of Saham al-Golan, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

“Russian air strikes hit Saham al-Golan this morning, as dozens of shells and artillery fire hit the town,” said Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman.

In retaliation, IS launched an attack southwards on Heet, a rebelheld town that recently agreed to return to regime control.

The Britain-based Observatory, which relies on a network of sources across Syria, gave no immediate death toll for yesterday’s fighting.

“Daesh (IS) stormed Heet, detonated a car bomb and advanced there and are also intensely bombing the nearby village of Zaizun,” said Abdel Rahman.

IS claimed responsibility on Tuesday for a suicide car bombing in Zaizun that left 14 fighters dead. — AFP

Smoke rising in the aftermath of the Syrian government forces’ demolition of a tunnel formerly used by rebels in the capital Damascus’ northeastern suburb of Qaboun. — AFP photo