Damascus, Dec 9 (IANS): Seven soldiers and pro-government fighters were killed during an Islamic State (IS) attack on military sites in Syria's Deir al-Zour province, a war monitor reported early Saturday.
According to Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the attack was launched on military positions east of the T2 oil station in southern Deir al-Zour.
The UK-based watchdog placed the death toll of such attacks so far this year at 594, including 44 IS militants, 385 soldiers and pro-government fighters, as well as 165 civilians, Xinhua news agency reported.
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The IS has lost key areas in Syria and its fighter cells have to resort to reposition and guerrilla warfare in the sprawling desert region of eastern Syria.