The Syrian armed forces have repelled an attack of Islamic State (ISIL) militants on an airbase near the eastern city of Deir ez-Zor, destroying 58 jihadists, local media said early Monday.
Dozens of ISIL fighters were also killed in two cities of the Deir ez -Zor province on the border with Iraq, the national news agency SANA said.
The base near Deir ez-Zor has been a flashpoint in the struggle between the Syrian troops and ISIL militants as it is considered to be a stronghold of the Syrian army.