Syrian army takes control of 2,000 sq km of desert areas

The Syrian army and allied fighters have taken control of 2,000 square km of desert areas following recent battles with the Islamic State (IS), a military source told Xinhua Saturday.

The Syrian forces and allied Iranian-backed fighters wrested control over the areas between the city of Al Sukhnah and Al Shear in the remote eastern countryside of Homs Province in central Syria on Saturday, the source said on condition of anonymity.

The military forces are combing the area for explosives left by IS militants.

It is the latest progress in a string of operations the Syrian army and allied fighters have launched in the Syrian desert.

On Thursday, the Syrian army laid full siege on the IS in the desert.

The ongoing military operations in the Syrian desert aim to reach the key Deir al-Zour in eastern Syria near Iraq, as part of the military will to break the IS siege to the city and reach the besieged civilians and soldiers inside.