Syria state media says Hasaka city "safe"

Syria's official TV said Saturday that northern city of Hasaka is "safe," adding that the government institutions are still operative.

The Syrian army, meanwhile, are still hunting down the terrorists of the Islamic State (IS) militants who have infiltrated the southern districts of the city, the TV added.

Citing the head of the police department in Hasaka, the TV denied the IS reports that its militants stormed the facility and released all inmates.

It said the central prison of Hasaka is still operating normally, adding that the prison guards repelled the attack and pursuing the assailants.

Meanwhile, the activists Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said intense battles between the IS and the Syrian army continued until after midnight at the outskirts of the Nashweh neighborhood, the first to be infiltrated by the IS in southern Hasaka on Thursday, and the vicinity of the Criminal Intelligence Headquarters.

The London-based watchdog group said the Syrian forces brought in reinforcement from Republican Guards Unit in the eastern province of Deir al-Zour to help battle the IS in Hasaka.

The Syrian air force also struck the IS positions south of Haskaka, killing tens of them.

The IS militants unleashed a massive offensive against Hasaka on Thursday, capturing the Nashweh, following intense battles with the Syrian forces.

For his part, Syria's Minister of Information Omran al-Zoubi said Friday that defending Hasaka in the face of the terrorist group is the duty of every person in Hasaka, calling on all men capable of holding weapons to take part in defending the city against the massive offensive of the IS militants. Endit