In Syria, government forces have fended off an attack by Islamic State militants on south of the town of Tabqa, holding their positions just 15 kilometres from the ISIL-held Tabqa airbase.

The Syrian Observatory for Human rights says 28 died in the battle, over half being ISIL fighters. Tabqa lies 50 kilometers east of the extremist group's de facto capital of Raqqa, and recapturing it would sever one of the group's supply routes.

Earlier this month, government forces began pushing north towards Tabqa. And last week, ISIL sent reinforcements of fighters and weapons into the town. Some 40 government fighters and 100 ISIL militants have been killed since the offensive was launched.