BEIRUT (AP) — Syrian activists say the Islamic State group has seized a key town in central Syria following clashes with President Bashar Assad’s forces.
The town of Qaryatain lies southwest of the historic town of Palmyra, which the extremist group seized in May. The capture of Qaryatain, a heavily populated town, allows the IS group to link up areas under its control in and around Palmyra with areas in the eastern countryside of Qalamoun north of Damascus.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says the IS group seized the town today after three suicide bombers targeted army checkpoints at the entrance the day before, setting off a fierce battle.
Websites affiliated with the Islamic State group confirmed the militants had taken over Qaryatain.
The Times Record Sustaining Sponsor
We believe a community must be informed to thrive. bowdoin.edu
Comments are not available on this story. Read more about why we allow commenting on some stories and not on others.
We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others.
We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion.
You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs.
Show less