26 Syria regime, 9 Russia fighters killed in IS attack: monitor

At least 26 Syrian regime forces and nine Russian fighters were killed in an Islamic State group attack earlier this week in Syria's eastern desert, a monitor said today.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the jihadists had targeted a group of Syrian and allied Russian troops in Deir Ezzor province on Wednesday.

Russia's defence ministry said today four Russian servicemen had been killed in an incident in Deir Ezzor but did not give a date.