Islamic State controls half of Syrian territory: Monitor

Beirut: Islamic State controls more than half of Syria`s territory after its westwards advance into the central city of Palmyra, a group monitoring the war said on Thursday.

The militant group, which already controlled wide tracts of land in Syria`s north and east, captured the ancient city late on Wednesday, the first time it has seized a large population centre directly from Syrian pro-government forces.

The areas it holds are mostly sparsely inhabited. Syria`s main cities, including the capital Damascus, are located on its western flank along the border with Lebanon and the coastline and have been the priority for the Syrian military.