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Gloves Come Off between Syrian Regime, Islamic State
(Al-Monitor) Edward Dark - The Islamic State (IS) now controls more than a third of Syria, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The group's stunning victories in Iraq have been repeated in Syria. IS now controls nearly all of the oil-rich eastern province of Deir ez-Zor. After ousting its rival, the al-Qaeda-affiliated Jabhat al-Nusra, from the provincial capital, IS is now face to face with regime forces. The undeclared truce between the regime and IS seems to have run its course. The devastating assault by IS on the al-Shaer gas field in Homs on July 16 left up to 300 regime troops and civilian employees dead. Meanwhile, the Syrian regime has launched airstrikes on IS headquarters and training camps, an indication that the gloves are now definitely off.