A total of 48 Syrian soldiers and pro-government fighters have been killed over the past week during battles with the Islamic State (IS) group in eastern Syria, a war monitor said Saturday. The IS militants carried out attacks, bombings and shelling against government forces in the desert region of the eastern province of Deir al-Zour, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
In addition, 50 pro-government fighters went missing in the desert while combing areas for IS militants, added the Observatory. In the same period, 22 IS militants were killed by Russian airstrikes and in battles with the Syrian forces, according to the Britain-based watchdog. After losing key areas across the country, the IS now has a presence in the Syrian desert region in the remote eastern countryside of Homs Province and Deir al-Zour Province.
