IS militants capture key oil field in central Syria

Islamic State (IS) militants have captured a key oil field in central Syria from government troops, a monitor group reported Monday.

The fall of the al-Jazal oil field, in the province of Homs, came after intense fighting, said London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The Observatory, which relies on a network of activists on the ground, said al-Jazal was the last oil field under government control.

The government had already lost the oil and gas fields in Deir al-Zour, and Kurdish militants in northern Syria now control Rmailan oil field, the country's largest.

Clashes are still raging on near the field, the Observatory said.

Oil had been a pillar industry of Syria's economy until the crisis broke out more than three years ago, with a daily output of about 380,000 barrels. Oil export, at 130,000 barrels a day, once accounted for 45 percent of total exports.

As the crisis dragged on, production declined sharply. Endit