Syrian troops break into last IS
Albu Kamal
Beirut (AFP) â Syrian troops and allied militiamen entered  the jihadist-held town of Albu Kamal  on Wednesday  state media said  edging closer to ousting the Islamic State group from its last urban stronghold in the country.
 Albu Kamal  lies on the Syrian side of the border with Iraq  in the oil-rich eastern province of Deir Ezzor.
Entry to  Albu Kamal  follows a series of stunningly quick defeats for IS in the province as well as the jihadistsâ loss of their de facto capital Raqa further north.
âArmy troops and allied forces broke through Daesh (IS) defences and entered Albu Kamal  waging fierce battles inside  the town  â state news agency SANA reported.
Syrian regime forces  backed by intensive Russian air strikes  have steadily advanced on  Albu Kamal  from the south and west for weeks.
âThe advance towards  Albu Kamal  came after army troops and their allies met up with Iraqi forces at the border between the two countries â SANA said.
A source from militias allied to Damascus told AFP that fighters from Lebanonâs pro-regime Hezbollah movement had advanced to the southern edges of  Albu Kamal  on Wednesday.
âPart of those units crossed into Iraq  with the help of Hashed al-Shaabi units  to circle around  Albu Kamal  and reach the northern side of the town â the source added.
But the jihadist group has seen that territory shrink to a small pocket along the Euphrates River  with  Albu Kamal  as  its  final hub.
In recent weeks  an estimated 120 000 people have been displaced from  Albu Kamal  alone  said Linda Tom from the United Nationsâ humanitarian affairs coordination office in Damascus.
Beirut (AFP) â Syrian troops and allied militiamen entered  the jihadist-held town of  [TGT] on Wednesday  state media said  edging closer to ousting the Islamic State group from its last urban stronghold in the country.
  [TGT] lies on the Syrian side of the border with Iraq  in the oil-rich eastern province of Deir Ezzor.
Entry to   [TGT] follows a series of stunningly quick defeats for IS in the province as well as the jihadistsâ loss of their de facto capital Raqa further north.
âArmy troops and allied forces broke through Daesh (IS) defences and entered  [TGT] waging fierce battles inside  the town  â state news agency SANA reported.
Syrian regime forces  backed by intensive Russian air strikes  have steadily advanced on  Albu Kamal  from the south and west for weeks.
âThe advance towards   [TGT] came after army troops and their allies met up with Iraqi forces at the border between the two countries â SANA said.
A source from militias allied to Damascus told AFP that fighters from Lebanonâs pro-regime Hezbollah movement had advanced to the southern edges of  Albu Kamal  on Wednesday.
âPart of those units crossed into Iraq  with the help of Hashed al-Shaabi units  to circle around  Albu Kamal  and reach the northern side of the town â the source added.
But the jihadist group has seen that territory shrink to a small pocket along the Euphrates River  with  [TGT] as   [TGT]   final hub.
In recent weeks  an estimated 120 000 people have been displaced from  [TGT] alone  said Linda Tom from the United Nationsâ humanitarian affairs coordination office in Damascus.