Damascus, Sep 17 (IANS): The Syrian army has gained ground against the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group after launching intensive air and ground attacks in al-Ghouta, the eastern countryside of capital Damascus, a media report said Wednesday.

The Syrian army pounded IS positions in various parts of al-Ghouta, mainly in Jobar area, to stop militants from attacking Damascus and gaining access into militant-held towns, Press TV reported.

Al-Ghouta is considered the main stronghold for militants east of Damascus.

The IS militants Wednesday morning attacked Kabbas and Dukhaniya towns in the eastern countryside of Damascus and took hundreds of residents hostage.

"They (militants) forced us out of our homes along with 400 civilians... We were taken to Douma through Ein Tarma valley. We were kept for hours, inside a school, where they make explosives. They released some people later on,” a resident was quoted as saying.

Fierce fighting between Syrian security forces and militants was on in Dukhaniya.

Syria has been gripped by deadly violence since 2011 with IS terrorists controlling parts of it mostly in the east. The crisis has claimed over 100,000 lives while leaving millions of people displaced.