ERBIL - Airstrikes by the Syrian regime and its close ally, Russia, have killed more than 25 Islamic State (IS) militants in the Syrian desert over the past 48 hours, a monitor reported.
Fierce clashes have also erupted between the regime forces and Islamic State militants in the region where 26 jihadists were killed, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed on Saturday.
According to the Britain-based monitoring group, at least 18 regime troops and loyalists were also killed in the clashes.
"The death toll is expected to rise because of the serious injuries of some casualties," SOHR added.
"Since the 24th of March 2019, SOHR has documented the killing of at least 588 regime soldiers and loyalists of the Syrian and non-Syrian nationalities, including at least two Russians, and 127 Iranian-backed militiamen of non-Syrian nationalities."