IS claims capture of missile battalion in Syria

The Islamic State (IS) militants captured a missile battalion in the military airbase of the eastern Syrian province of Deir al-Zour, the group claimed on Wednesday.

In an online statement, the IS terror militants said it captured the missile battalion after two of its militants carried out two suicide bombings at the airbase on Wednesday.

The statement accessed by Xinhua claimed the attack killed 90 Syrian soldiers and officers.

Meanwhile, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a London-based watchdog group, said intense battles raged on Wednesday at the base, amid a progress made by the IS.

It said information indicates that the IS militants captured the missile battalion, which is located southeast of the airbase.

The Observatory, which has wide connections in Syria, said the IS was trying to capture the airfield, following several failing attempts to achieve that goal.

The state-run media outlets did not comment on the news emerging from Deir al-Zour, but the pro-government Sama TV said the base's corps defended the base from the heavy attack.

The terror-labeled group has captured large swathes of the oil- rich Deir al-Zour province, bordering Iraq.