Syrian troops takes control of airbase under IS attack

Damascus, Aug 24 (IANS) Syrian troops took full control of the al-Tabaqa airbase Sunday after intense battles with the Islamic State (IS) militants, state-run media said.

The militants could not hold their ground, SANA news agency reported.

Government forces are still striking at the positions of the terrorists in that area.

An army commander said severe losses were inflicted upon the terrorists while many militant tanks, launchers and vehicles were seized.

Earlier Sunday, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the IS fighters succeeded in taking control of the airbase, and all the jet fighters, airplanes and officers were evacuated from the facility to a military airport in the eastern province of Deir al-Zour, Xinhua reported.

This is the fourth time the IS attempted to storm that facility.

Last week, the Syrian troops succeeded to fend off an attack by the IS on the facility, killing as many as 140 militants.

The Islamic State, previously known as the Islamic State in Iraq and the Syria, has recently proclaimed to establish an “Islamic Caliphate” in parts of Syria and Iraq.

The group, led by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, said their goal is to establish an Islamic state in Iraq and Syria instead of expanding more into other Arab countries.

The UN Security Council has recently adopted a resolution to choke off the flow of fund and fighters to the militant group.