At least 35 Syrian soldiers and pro-regime militiamen were killed Saturday in a multi-front attack by the Islamic State group on the eastern city of Deir Ezzor, a monitor said.<br />The fighting came as regime forces battled ISIS in the northern province of Aleppo, repelling a jihadist assault and killing at least 16 fighters from the group.<br />Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman said heavy fighting was continuing on Saturday afternoon after the ISIS assault, which began with a suicide car bomb blast carried out by a member of the jihadist group.<br />The monitor said Russian warplanes were carrying out heavy air strikes in support of regime forces as they sought to repel the jihadists.
