Dozens of people have died in an offensive by Islamic State group on government-held areas of Deir al-Zour in Syria, .According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, 85 civilians were killed yesterday in the assault, which also claimed the lives of 50 Syrian soldiers and pro-government militiamen.
Syria’s state news agency Sana reported that around 300 civilians had died in the Baghaliyeh area of the city.
Reuters news agency cited a source close to the government as saying Islamic State group killed at least 250 people when they attacked Baghaliyeh and Ayash another district.
Deir ez-Zor is the capital of Deir ez-Zor province, an oil-rich region that borders Iraq and is mostly held by Islamic State.