DAMASCUS, May 24 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian army said in a statement that it has killed and wounded 3,000 Islamic State (IS) militants during operations in the eastern countryside of Aleppo, state news agency SANA reported on Wednesday.
The army said it has captured over 28 villages and towns in the eastern countryside of Aleppo, following battles with the IS.
The statement also declared the military recapture of the Jarrah air base in eastern Aleppo.
This air base has a strategic importance because of its location in the central part of the eastern countryside of Aleppo. It also overlooks IS-held areas such as the cities of Deir Hafer and Maskaneh.
During the operations in eastern Aleppo, the army killed IS commanders of several nationalities, including Iraqis, Tunisians, Saudis and Egyptians, it said.
However, SANA did not give a timeframe for the operations.
The Syrian army started its operations in eastern Aleppo countryside earlier this year, following the recapture of the eastern part of Aleppo city in December 2016.
