ISIS suicide blasts kill 26 soldiers

The Islamic State (ISIS) jihadist group has expanded its control inside an eastern Syrian city after clashes and suicide attacks killed at least 26 regime fighters, a monitor said.

ISIS militants seized the industrial neighbourhood in the city of Deir Ezzor after a fierce offensive that began on Wednesday morning, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

The attack began when three ISIS suicide bombers drove explosive-laden cars into the neighbourhood, killing at least 11 members of pro-government forces, the Britain-based monitor said.

The ensuing “violent clashes, airstrikes, and an exchange of shelling” brought the toll up to 26 government loyalists and 12 IS militants, according to the observatory.

The ISIS already holds most of the oil-rich Deir Ezzor province and much of its provincial capital.The jihadist group has been fighting for months to take Deir Ezzor city.If Deir Ezzor city falls to ISIS, it would be the second provincial capital under the extremist group’s control after Raqa.