Turkey has two demands from US for support in Manbij operation: Sources

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2. Assad forces seize key ISIS bastion in central Syria

DAMASCUS - Syrian troops on Sunday seized the key Islamic State group bastion of Al-Qaryatain, dealing the jihadists a new blow in the country's centre a week after expelling them from Palmyra, state television said.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group however said fighting was still raging in the east and southeast of the town, which is located in the desert in Homs province.

"The army with backing from supporting forces (pro-regime militia) brings back complete security and stability to the town of Al-Qaryatain, after crushing Daesh terrorists' last remaining positions there," state television said, using an Arabic acronym for ISIS.

But the Britain-based Observatory said the army was still fighting the jihadists in about half the town.

http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=76129