IS recaptures central Syria towns from regime

The Islamic State jihadist group on Thursday recaptured two areas in central Syria from government forces, just weeks after losing them, a monitor said. “Syrian army units withdrew from all of the Maheen and Hawareen areas after an IS attack,” said Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The two areas had previously been held by IS, but in late November the army and pro-regime militias were able to recapture them.