Syria: Islamic State Group Captures Strategic City in Homs Province

The Islamic State group took the strategic city of Maheen, in Homs province, on Sunday, after heavy clashes with government troops.

Despite the presence of army and pro-government militias' in the city, the Islamic State group was able to launch a surprise attack that began with the detonation of two car bombs at the entrance of Maheen.

The city is strategic, because it is located 13 miles (20 kilometers) away from the main highroad linking the province to the capital city of Damascus.

The road also links the capital city to Syria's other main cities: Homs, Hama and Aleppo.

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After taking the city, clashes between the Islamic State group and troops loyal to Bashar Al-Assad erupted in Sadad, a town closer to the center of Homs.

The new territorial conquest of the group comes as the Islamic State moves further toward the west of the Homs province, where it already controls territory.

For those who say ISIS doesn’t have a strategy. #blackgold pic.twitter.com/ILeEko1W0L

— Aaron Y. Zelin (@azelin) junio 11, 2014

The loss comes as the government is trying to secure the province, which is rich in oil.

Clashes were also registered at the outskirts of Aleppo city, and the Syrian Al-Qaeda affiliate Jabhat Al-Nusra regained control of areas in the southern Syrian countryside.

The Syrian government is also fighting rebels in the Idlib province.

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