Islamic State takes control of three new villages in Syria

The Islamic State, formerly known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, or ISIS took control of three new towns in the eastern part of Syria, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported.

The Britain based watchdog issued a statement saying that after days of clashes between ISIS elements and local tribesmen, the Islamic State militants were able to control the villages of Abu Hammam, Ksheikeh and Gharaneej which are inhabited by the Alshuaitat clan in the countryside east of Deir al-Zour.

The German Press Agency, D.B.A. quoted the organization as saying that “the Islamic State militants bombed several areas in the towns which led to the killing of several citizens and wounding others”. “Both sides sustained losses” the statement said.

The Observatory expressed fears that the Islamic State would commit new executions among the locals, especially the men.

The Islamic State executed a few days ago at least 19 men and teenagers, one of them was slaughtered with a sharp object in the Deir al-Zour desert near the Omar oil field, which fell under its control on July, 3.