International News

BEIRUT, (APP/AFP) – The Islamic State group
has tightened the noose on a regime-held enclave in eastern Syria, overrunning part of the city of Deir Ezzor and advancing on its
vital airbase, a monitor said Wednesday.
“IS seized the Al-Sinaa neighbourhood of Deir Ezzor on
Tuesday evening and fighting is continuing on the edge of the
airport,” the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
An estimated 200,000 civilians are believed to remain
in government-held districts of Deir Ezzor, where they have
been living under siege by IS since March 2014.
The militants, who also control nearly all the surrounding
province, have made repeated attacks on the government enclave and
in January seized the suburb of Al-Bgheliyeh.
But their efforts to capture the city’s airbase have so far
been repulsed by elite regime troops.