BEIRUT: Daesh used at least 10 suicide bombers on Friday in a massive attack on Albu Kamal, in which they retook parts of the eastern Syrian town, a monitor said then they withdrew.
At least 25 government and allied fighters were killed in the offensive, one of the extremists' largest this year, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
"It's the biggest attack on Albu Kamal since they lost it" in November 2017, said Rami Abdel Rahman, the head of the Britain-based Observatory.
"IS now controls several parts of the city. Fighting is ongoing in the centre," he added.
Albu Kamal lies on the border with Iraq in Syria's Deir Ezzor province, about 440 kilometres (270 miles) east of the capital Damascus.
The area was the heart of the once sprawling, self-styled "caliphate" Daesh proclaimed in 2014 and its recapture by pro-government forces last year was the final nail in the proto-state's coffin.
Daesh militants withdraw after retaking parts of Syria town in major attack: monitor
Daesh militants withdraw after retaking parts of Syria town in major attack: monitor
- Daesh retook parts of the eastern Syrian town Albu Kamal after a violent attack involving at least 10 suicide bombers.
- Albu Kamal lies on the border with Iraq in Syria's Deir Ezzor province, about 440 kilometres (270 miles) east of the capital Damascus.
Syrian government foils Daesh plot to attack churches and New Year celebrations
- Bomber kills soldier in Aleppo, detonates explosives injuring 2 others
ALEPPO, DAMASCUS: The Syrian Interior Ministry announced on Thursday that it had thwarted a Daesh plot to carry out suicide attacks targeting New Year celebrations and churches, particularly in Aleppo.
The ministry said in a statement that, as part of ongoing counterterrorism efforts and careful monitoring of Daesh cells in cooperation with partner agencies, it had received intelligence indicating plans for suicide attacks targeting New Year celebrations in several provinces, particularly Aleppo, with a focus on churches and civilian gathering areas.
The ministry added that it took preemptive measures, including reinforcing security around churches, deploying mobile and fixed patrols, and setting up checkpoints across the city.
During operations at a checkpoint in Aleppo’s Bab Al-Faraj district, security forces intercepted a suspected Daesh member who opened fire. One internal security soldier was killed, and the attacker detonated explosives, injuring two others.
Daesh recently increased its attacks in Syria, and was blamed for an attack last month in Palmyra that killed three Americans.
On Dec. 13, two US soldiers and an American civilian were killed in an attack Washington blamed on a lone Daesh gunman in Palmyra.
In retaliation, American forces struck scores of Daesh targets in Syria.
Syrian authorities have also carried out several operations against Daesh since then, saying on Dec. 25 they had killed a senior leader of the group.
