Syrian Government Captures District From Islamic State

The Syrian Army fire artillery in Deir al-Zour (Picture: PA). 

Syrian government forces have taken control of Tulul al-Safa region from Islamic State in the south of the country.

Control for the region was hard fought with scores killed during weeks of fighting.

Despite being mostly defeated in Syria and Iraq over the past two years, IS still has hideouts from where they launch attacks.

However, with the capture of Tulul al-Safa, a rugged mountainous region east of the Sweida province, Syrian troops now control wide parts of the country's south.