Syrian army pushes IS away from Hasakeh

Syrian government forces have pushed Islamic State group fighters back after a bid by the jihadists to enter the city of Hasakeh in northeastern Syria, a monitor says.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says “fierce combat” had allowed government forces to push IS fighters away from the southern edge of Hasakeh, the capital of the province of the same name.

“IS, which has been at the southern entrance of the city since Thursday, was forced to pull back two kilometres after fierce combat with regime forces,” the Britain-based monitor says.

Syria’s official SANA news agency also reported the fighting, saying the army had retaken several positions captured by IS in recent days, including an electricity station and a prison being used as a military base.

The Observatory says fighting was now continuing in the area near the prison.

IS began an assault on Hasakeh on May 30, advancing to the southern entrance to the city last week.

—AFP