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DAMASCUS, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian warplanes carried out airstrikes on the IS militants in the eastern province of Deir al-Zour Sunday, a day after the group unleashed a wide-scale offensive in the oil-rich area, a monitor group reported.
The clashes are concentrated in the Muwazafien, Ummal, Bghailiyeh neighborhoods in the city and its northwestern outskirts, coupled with battles in the vicinity of the Deir al-Zour airbase and the mountain overlooking the city, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
The UK-based watchdog group said the clashes were coupled with tens of airstrikes targeting the IS positions in the city and its countryside.
It added that the IS militants succeeded to make progress in the Jamiyeh Ruwad and the mountain overlooking Deir al-Zour city, in tandem with shelling by IS on the government-controlled parts of the city, which resulted in the killing of three civilians, including a woman.
A day earlier, 12 soldiers were killed during the raging battles, the Observatory added.
It said the IS offensive is the most violent since the terror group attacked areas in Deir al-Zour and besieged government-controlled areas in the city two years ago.
It added that the IS fighters were advancing near the graveyard area and the vicinity of the Deir al-Zour airport, the only port the Syrian army uses in and out of the city.
The IS militants have been preparing for this new offensive since early this month, when they brought in tires and crude oil, in what the Observatory said was a preparation to make huge fire during their offensive.
It's worth mentioning that the IS controls large swathes of the Deir al-Zour countryside, and its recent attempt is to storm the besieged government-controlled areas in the city.
Deir al-Zour holds a significance for the IS as an oil-rich area near the Iraqi borders.
