1st LD: Syrian forces kill 40 IS militants in Deir al-Zour

The Syrian government forces killed as many as 40 militants with the Islamic State (IS) group, including a commander responsible for oil-related affairs, in a "qualitative" operation in the oil-rich province of Deir al-Zour in eastern Syria, the official Syrian TV reported Saturday.

The Syrian troops killed the 40 militants near the al-Omar oil field in the countryside of Deir al-Zour, the TV said, adding that the so-called "IS minister of oil," who goes by the alias of Abu al-Taim al-Saudi, was among those killed.

Throughout the last couple of years, the IS captured large swathes of Deir al-Zour, mainly in its countryside, where most of the country's oil and gas fields are located.

Local media said the large portion of the IS finance comes from the illegal selling of the Syrian oil.

Meanwhile, the TV said the Syrian army thwarted the infiltration attempt of the IS militants in the countryside of the central province of Homs and the outskirts of the southern province of Swaida. Endit