Syrian army advances against Islamic State east of Aleppo
The Syrian army captured territory from Islamic State east of Aleppo including several kilometres (miles) of highway linking the city with the jihadists' de facto capital of Raqqa, Syrian state TV reported on Saturday.
The areas reported captured are east of the Kweires, air base seized from Islamic State control on Nov. 10 in one of several offensives being waged by the Syrian army with support from Russian air strikes, Iranian forces, and Lebanese Hezbollah fighters.
Reuters could not independently confirm the report.
A headline flashed on state TV said the army had captured the two villages of Kaskis and Akula and wide areas of agricultural land, seizing tunnels and fortifications built by the jihadists, and were demining areas mined by the group.
