DAMASCUS: Syrian government forces have swept across territory south of Islamic State group stronghold Raqa, capturing a string of villages and oilfields from the jihadists, state media said on Monday. The landscape south of Raqa city strategically borders several provinces: Aleppo to the west, Homs to the south and Deir Ezzor — much of which is still held by IS — to the east. On Monday, state news agency SANA said government loyalists had scored significant gains against IS in the area. “Over the past two days, army units recaptured a number of villages and oilfields in western parts of Deir Ezzor province and southern parts of Raqa,” the agency said. Published in Daily Times, July 18th, 2017.