Beirut: Pro-government forces repelled an attack on a key Syrian military airport by Islamic State group affiliated militants, losing 20 fighters but killing almost as many jihadists, a monitor said on Saturday.
“Militants who pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group attacked the outskirts of the Khalkhalah military airport in Sweida province on Friday,” said Rami Abdel Rahman, the head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
The forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad had been able to maintain control over the airport and its surrounding areas despite losing 20 fighters. At least 15 IS jihadists were killed. Khalkhalah airport lies along a major highway that links the southern regime-held city of Sweida to Damascus.
“The area is important because it’s Druze and borders Damascus province,” Abdel Rahman said, referring to the minority sect that considers Sweida its stronghold.
Sweida province has largely avoided the bloodshed of Syria’s war.
