9 ISIL militants killed in fighting in Deir Ez-Zor

Nine members of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) died during fierce clashes with troops of the Syrian regime in the Syrian northeastern city of Deir Ez-Zor, the Syrian Monitor for Human Rights said in a statement on Friday.
The monitor reported fighting between regime troops and opposition forces around the ancient fortress in northern city, Aleppo, "amid reports about casualties in ranks of the two sides." It added that ferocious clashes were raging between the government troops and opposition factions, namely Al-Nusra Front, on outskirts of Morek town, amid air strikes by the regime air force.
The body said opposition factions planned attacks against a chain of regime troops-manned checkpoints on the international Syria-Jordan road, with aim of linking up eastern and western parts of Horan plain, in southern Syria. It added that the two sides suffered casualties in fierce fighting near blockades, set up in vicinity of Um Al-Mayathen.