RAQQAH, Syria 

The Islamic State has overrun a Syrian regime air base, securing their control over the province of al-Raqqah.

Militants took control of the Tabqa base on Sunday, according to opposition groups the Syrian Revolution General Commission and the Local Coordination Committees of Syria.

Sources said IS had captured Tabqa completely after a long and fierce battle lasting weeks, with IS launching a major attack on Tuesday.

The base was the regime’s final foothold in the province, following the fall of other bases in the province, which borders Turkey.

Meanwhile, IS militants repeated their attacks in the Free Syrian Army-controlled town of Azez, in northwest Syria, according to local sources.

IS is reportedly aiming to cut the Free Syrian Army’s supply routes to Turkey. Azez sites on the road between the Turkish border and Aleppo.

Elsewhere, at least five children were killed when regime forces dropped barrel bombs on three villages in Daraa province on Sunday, Syria’s Shaam News Network reported.

The network said the bombs, which are packed with high explosives, shrapnel and flammable material, were dropped on homes as people slept in the early hours.

Syria has been gripped by civil war since March 2011. Last month, the Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that more than 133,000 people had been killed in Syrian regime attacks.

www.aa.com.tr/en