According to the so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and the Local Coordination Committees of Syria on Thursday, heavy fighting was raging on between Syrian soldiers and the Takfiri militants just outside the eastern city of Deir al-Zor.

The militants launched an attack on the airbase on Thursday overnight after a bombing attack on a nearby Syrian military position.

Most of the area is under the control of the Takfiri terrorists, and the Syrian army is pressing ahead to liberate the villages and cities.

Over the past months, the Syrian army has managed to inflict heavy losses on anti-Damascus armed groups. The army has also conducted successful clean-up operations across the country.

Syria has been grappling with a deadly crisis since March 2011. The ISIL terrorists, who control large parts of Syria and Iraq, have threatened all communities, including Shias, Sunnis, Kurds, and Christians.

More than 200,000 people have been killed so far in the conflict in Syria, according to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Zeid al-Hussein.

Western powers and some of their regional allies - especially Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey - are reportedly supporting the militants.