Beirut (AFP) - Jihadists from the Islamic State group executed 26 civilians on Thursday after overrunning their villages near Syria's ancient city of Palmyra, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

"Daesh executed 26 civilians, including at least 10 by beheading, after accusing them of collaborating with the Syrian regime," said Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman, using the Arabic acronym for IS.