ISIS militants suffer blow in Syria, Iraq

The Syrian army yesterday said it had repulsed a major offensive by Islamic State militants in the northeastern city of Hasaka and driven out fighters who had taken over key installations on the southern edge of the city.

The northeastern corner of Syria is strategically important because it links areas controlled by Islamic State in Syria and Iraq. Syrian Kurds have also sought to expand their territorial control over a region stretching from Kobani to Qamishili they see as part of a future Kurdish state.

Tap Here to Add The Daily Star As A Trusted Source

The militants, approaching from their stronghold the city of Shadadi, south of Hasaka city, made lighting advances this week after conducting around a dozen suicide attacks using explosives-laden trucks at army checkpoints in the city.

But Syrian state television, quoting an army source, said in a newsflash they had taken back an electricity station, a juvenile prison and two villages almost two kilometers (one mile) south of the city that had been occupied by militants.

The United States and its allies said on Thursday they staged 17 air strikes on Islamic State targets in Syria and Iraq with four of the raids near Hasaka.

 In Iraq, forces with the support of the US are now in control of Baiji city, military and militia sources told CNN yesterday.

"Forces have cleansed and are in control completely of government complex, city center, Fatah mosque (main mosque) and surrounding neighborhoods," said Brig Gen Tahseen Ibrahim, a spokesman for the Iraqi defense ministry.

He credited the US with "a significant role supporting" Iraqi ground forces in the assault. He did not provide specifics on what kind of support the forces received.

ISIS forces, who had seized the city, fled back toward Mosul .

Meanwhile, a suicide car bomb ripped through roadside restaurants at the entrance to the town of Baladruz in eastern Iraq, killing at least 15 people, police and provincial officials said yesterday.

The attack took place late Saturday at the entrance of Baladruz, which lies about 65 kilometres  northeast of Baghdad, and was claimed by the Islamic State group.