'Popular Resistance' militia kills three IS terrorists in Syria

Three Islamic State (IS) terrorists were killed Saturday in the Syrian province of Deir al-Zour, by the 'Popular Resistance' militia, media reported.

The Popular Resistance attacked an IS vehicle in the outskirts of al-Mayadeen city in the countryside of Deir al-Zour Saturday and captured a group of the IS fighters, Xinhua reported, citing the SANA news agency. No further details were, however, provided.

On the other hand, according to a report by Sham FM, which Xinhua also cited, pro-government fighters actually killed three IS members, who were in the targeted vehicle.

The IS has captured large swathes of territory in Deir al-Zour, focusing its attacks mainly on oil and gas plants.

Popular Resistance, a pro-government militia formed recently in that oil-rich province, has carried out several ambushes against the IS militants.

The Deir al-Zour province in eastern Syria has a strategic importance to the IS owing to its location near Syria's border with Iraq.

The IS is a Sunni jihadi organisation and last June proclaimed a "caliphate" in areas it controls in Iraq and Syria. The group has been named a terrorist organisation by the UN and European Union (EU).