BEIRUT: The Islamic State group on Saturday launched one of its fiercest assaults yet on the besieged Syrian city of Deir Ezzor, leaving more than 30 regime fighters and jihadists dead. Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman said Saturday’s attack was the “most violent” assault mounted by IS on the city in more than a year. “Daesh is amassing its forces to attack Deir Ezzor and breach government lines,” a Syrian military source told AFP, using the Arabic acronym for IS. Official invitations have yet to be issued for the Astana talks, but Turkey’s foreign minister has said Washington will be asked to attend. The Astana talks are scheduled to begin just three days after Trump is inaugurated.

Source: New Strait Times January 14, 2017 16:35 UTC