ISIS Takes Control of Crucial Airbase in Syria as Government Forces Retreat
The Islamic State, otherwise known as ISIS or ISIL, has taken control of a key Syrian government airbase, according to reports out Sunday.
The Jihadist militant group's advances and terror campaign in Iraq has been put under the international spotlight over recent weeks, but it is their most recent advances in Syria that have many concerned now.
At the weekend, the Islamic extremist group took control of the Tabqa airbase, which was the last remaining stronghold of Bashar al-Assad's government in the Raqqa province.
According to state TV reports coming out of the country, government forces were driven back and forced to evacuate.
Fighting has been fierce over recent days, with hundreds reportedly killed on both sides.
According to the United Nations, the Syrian conflict had killed more than 191,000 people over the past three years up until April 2014.
Syrian state TV reported: "After heavy fighting by the forces defending the Tabqa airbase, our forces implemented a regrouping operation after the evacuation of the airbase."
Over recent months ISIS has made great advances across the northern regions of Iraq, sparking President Barack Obama to authorize limited airstrikes against the group to drive them back from some vital areas of the country. The United States has not targeted ISIS within Syria though, and they continue to make significant advances in the country.
