Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-02 03:23:48|Editor: yan

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DAMASCUS, Sept. 1 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian army and allied fighters captured on Friday the town of Uqayribat, a key Islamic State (IS) stronghold in the central province of Hama, a military source told Xinhua.

Located in the eastern countryside of Hama, the town was a main IS stronghold and a launching pad of the IS attacks against the army in Hama countryside.

The IS control over the town had also posed a threat to the road between Hama and the northern province of Aleppo.

Capturing Uqayribat is part of a wide-scale offensive the army and its allied forces have waged in Hama countryside against IS.

The army laid a full siege on Uqayribat on Aug. 18, before storming it on Friday.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the source told Xinhua that the army forces also captured four other towns in eastern Hama.

The battles in Hama are also part of a broader offensive against IS in the desert region in the eastern countryside of Homs province.

The army announced Friday it had reached the adminstritive border of Deir al-Zour province following battles with IS in eastern Homs.