The Jihadist Islamic State (IS) seized a major gas field in Syria Thursday, leaving at least 23 people dead in the process, according to Reuters.
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported Thursday that ISIS attacked the Shaar gas field near the city of Homs where they killed 23 of the field's guards in order to overtake the key site. Another 340 guards, government forces and regime-allied militias were also allegedly abducted or wounded in the clashes.
The Observatory said that IS "came from all sides" to seize the field in what is considered one of the bloodiest clashes between ISIS and regime forces in recent weeks.
The regime in recent weeks has increased its attacks on ISIS strongholds.
"Since the beginning of the year there have been clashes between ISIS and the regime in some areas, but these are the largest," the Observatory's director Rami AbdulRahman said, as reported by Reuters.
Syria's state media, however, has not yet reported the event.
IS is also in control of oil fields in Syria's eastern province of Deir Ezzor as well as in Iraq.
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