17 soldiers killed in IS ambush in Syria's Homs

The Islamic State (IS) group attacked Syrian military checkpoints in the central province of Homs on Thursday, killing 17 soldiers, a monitor group reported.

The IS militants beheaded three out of the 17 soldiers, who were ambushed when the IS attacked two checkpoints in the eastern countryside of Homs Thursday morning, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The UK-based watchdog group also reported losses among the IS assailants, without further elaboration.

It added that clashes took place between the Syrian troops and jihadist militants in the town of Saen in the countryside of Homs, with reports on losses from both sides.

Separately, two Syrian soldiers were killed during clashes with the jihadist militants in the northern countryside of Syria's coastal city of Latakia, the Observatory said, adding that the Syrian troops pounded the rebel positions in the towns of Atira and Kabir north of Latakia.

Meanwhile, the state news agency SANA said the Syrian troops killed tens of militants of the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front and likeminded group in the northwestern city of Idlib, severing their supply lines from the Turkish territories.

It said the Syrian army carried out "qualitative" operation against the Nusra militants in Idlib, killing tens of them.

The Nusra Front took control over Idlib since two weeks, pushing the Syrian army forces to regroup near the city.

On Wednesday, reports emerged from the city that the Syrian forces were working to wage a counter-offensive for the recapture of the city, which is the second provincial capital to fall to the extremist group since the northern city of al-Raqqa fell in the hands of IS over the past two years. Enditem