Islamic State seize military air base in Syria

Islamic State, IS fighters seized control of the Tabqa military air base in Raqqa province, in northeast Syria after the regime forces withdrew from it, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported.

The German News Agency, DPA, quoted a statement yesterday issued by the London based human rights group saying that: “Violent clashes erupted between the Syrian regime forces and gunmen loyal to them and the organization of the Islamic State, IS after three failed attempts by the latter to storm the airport”. According to the statement, IS fighters were able to storm the air base, the regime’s last stronghold in Raqqa during the fourth attack.

Meanwhile, 32 opposition fighters are reported to have been killed and dozens more were wounded Sunday morning in an ambush laid by the Syrian regime forces in the Daraa countryside, south-west of the country, the Syrian Observatory reported.

The Syrian State TV confirmed the news saying that “tens of terrorists” have been killed in the ambush.

The Observatory said, “32 opposition fighters were killed in an ambush at dawn yesterday in the area between the towns of al- Harah and Zamrein near Daraa”, pointing out that the regime forces planted mines along the road used by the fighters and bombed them at the same time.