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IS overruns central Syrian town near key highway

Xinhua, November 1, 2015 Adjust font size:

The Islamic State (IS) militant group captured a town southwest of Syria's central city of Homs, becoming around 20 kilometers from the key international road connecting areas in the south with cities in the north, activists and pro-government media outlets said Sunday.

The IS said in a statement carried by activists that its militants fully took control of the town of Maheen southwest of Homs, capturing several arms depots in that town.

It added that the town has a strategic importance as it's located only 20 kilometers from the international road connecting the capital Damascus in the south with Homs and other government-controlled cities in the north and the coast in the west.

Meanwhile, the pro-government Sham FM said the IS militants carried out two suicide car bombings that targeted military checkpoints at the eastern and western entrances of Maheen, killing four soldiers and injuring nine others.

The town wasn't technically under the government forces' control, said the radio, adding that truce was concluded between the Syrian army and other militant groups inside the town for months.

It said the militants, who were observing a truce with the army forces at the outskirts of the town, pledged alliance with the IS militants upon storming the town.

The IS unleashed their attack against Maheen from the nearby town of Qaryateen, which was taken by the IS recently.

The report said the battles, which were waged by the IS on Saturday, continued until Sunday morning, adding that the Syrian forces retreated to nearby positions.

It said the IS attack on Maheen was expected as the Syrian army backed by Russian airstrikes was advancing against the IS in the northern countryside of Homs.

The radio said the international road is fully secured, shunning aside the possibility of an imminent IS attack due to the heavy fortifications of the Syrian army around the key road, which is the only lifeline and supply route connecting major Syrian cities with one another. Endit