At least 20 Syrian regime forces killed by IS near Palmyra: monitor

BEIRUT: Attacks by Islamic State group militants on Monday near Palmyra in central Syria killed at least 20 members of the regime's forces, a monitor said.

"At least 20 regime forces and pro-government fighters were killed in an IS attack on Tayfur airport in Homs province. Two high-ranking Syrian officers were killed when a regime helicopter was shot down near the airport," the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.