DAMASCUS, Nov. 12 (Xinhua) -- The Islamic State (IS) group launched an attack on Syrian forces' positions in the desert region of the central province of Hama province on Thursday, killing 14 soldiers and pro-government fighters, a war monitor reported.
The IS attacked positions of the Syrian army and pro-government fighters east of the Salamiyah city in the countryside of Hama, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
The Britain-based watchdog group said the Syrian forces started combing the areas after the attack.
The desert battles in the countryside areas of Hama, as well as in Aleppo and Deir al-Zour provinces, have been raging since March.
The observatory said 942 Syrian soldiers and pro-government fighters in addition to 505 IS militants had been killed in the same period.
The IS has lost key areas across Syria but still has a presence in the sprawling desert region in eastern Syria. Enditem
