Syrian army secures Is-held town

BEIRUT: Syrian government forces seized full control of the last major town in Homs province held by Islamic State, Syrian state media reported, as the army and its allies press a multi-pronged advance into eastern areas held by the jihadist group.

Syrian state media cited a military source saying IS militants had been killed and their weapons destroyed at the town of al-sukhna, 50km north-east of the ancient city of Palmyra.

The town is also 50km from the provincial boundary of Deir al-zor province, IS’S last major foothold in Syria and a major target for the Syrian government.

The jihadists have lost swathes of Syrian territory to separate campaigns being waged by government forces backed by Russia and Iran, and by the Us-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which is dominated by the Kurdish YPG militia.

The SDF is currently focused on capturing Raqqa city from IS.

Syrian government forces advancing from the west have recently crossed into Deir al-zor province from southern areas of Raqqa province.

Islamic State controls nearly all of Deir al-zor province, which is bordered to the east by Iraq.

The Syrian government still controls a pocket of territory in Deir al-zor city, and a nearby military base. – Reuters

Xinhua reports the International Organisation for Migration said 602 759 citizens returned to Syria from January to July, but 809 661 were displaced.