IS recaptures central Syria towns

The Islamic State jihadist group on Thursday recaptured two areas in central Syria from government forces, just weeks after losing them, a monitor said. "Syrian army units withdrew from all of the Maheen and Hawareen areas after an IS attack," said Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The two areas had previously been held by IS, but in late November the army and pro-regime militias were able to recapture them.
Abdel Rahman said fierce fighting was raging between regime forces and IS in the hills around the two areas. In nearby Sadad, a local representative said the army had deployed to secure an exit route for regime forces fighting the jihadists, "who are trying to encircle and isolate them".