Syrian forces kill 22 IS militants in northern province

At least 22 militants with the Islamic State (IS) group were killed separately in northern Syria Thursday, a monitor group reported.

Eight of the IS militants were killed in the northeastern province of Hasaka during battles against the Syrian government forces and the Kurdish fighters, who are fighting to protect Hasaka from the attacks of the IS terror group.

The rest were killed by the strikes of the U.S.-led anti-terror coalition against the northern province of Raqqa, the de facto capital of the terror-labeled group, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The fresh losses among the IS ranks came just a day after the group lost 33 of its militants during battles against the Kurds and the U.S.-led airstrikes, according to the UK-based Observatory.

The U.S.-led anti-terror coalition started bombing the IS positions in Syria in late September of last year. The strikes have so far done little to stem the momentum of the terror group.

On Wednesday, Syria's Presidential advisor said "the coalition, led by the U.S., to combat terrorism has given nothing in Iraq or Syria."

She affirmed priority in Syria now is combating terrorism, and stopping its support and finding sources through genuine cooperation among concerned countries. Endit