Fighting between Syrian army, IS kills scores

Free Syrian Army fighter inspects a dead Islamic State fighter after they took control of the area in the northern Aleppo countryside, in Syria on Monday.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights group said scores of Syrian government forces have been killed in three days of fighting with the Islamic State (IS) in the east of the country, where the jihadist group has attacked government-held areas.

Syrian officials could not be reached for comment.

120 from Syrian forces, 70 IS fighters killed

The Britain-based Observatory said 120 members of the Syrian government forces and 70 IS fighters had been killed in clashes since Saturday.

The official news agency SANA reported on Monday that government forces had recaptured some residential areas taken by the IS in Begayliya, near the city of Deir al Zor, and killed a number of fighters.