DAMASCUS , Syria, Aug. 6 (UPI) -- The strategic Syrian town of al-Qaryatain was captured Thursday from pro-government forces by Islamic State fighters, a monitoring group said.
"IS seized al-Qaryatain town in the southeastern countryside of Homs after violent clashes with pro-regime forces and loyalist fighters. The control of al-Qaryatain allows IS to link the areas under its control in the eastern countryside of Homs (province) with the areas under its control in the eastern countryside of Qalamun, and allows it to transfer fighters and supplies between the two regions," said Abdel Rahman of the British-based monitoring group Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.