ISIL militants have launched a fierce assault on a Syrian government enclave in the city of Deir al-Zor.<br /><br /> The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says at least 82 people have been killed, with militants attempting to cut the enclave off from a nearby military base.<br /><br /> ISIL began to advance on Deir al-Zor in 2015, with the army only managing to retain control of the city’s airport and some neighbouring districts.<br /><br /> ISIL is coming under increasing pressure from a US-backed coalition of Kurdish and Arab militias and rival Turkish-backed Syrian rebel groups.<br /><br /> The UN World Food Programme temporarily suspended air drops to Deir al-Zor because of the new heavy fighting there.<br /><br /> Meanwhile, preparations are underway for peace talks backed by Russia and Turkey in Kazakhstan on January the 23rd, negotiations that Syrian rebel groups have now decided to attend.<br /><br /> The Russia Foreign Minister claims some Western countries who feel left out may try to undermine the talks.<br /><br /> The Obama administration is not taking part but Sergei Lavrov said President-elect Trump’s team would be invited.<br />
