DAMASCUS, July 4 (Xinhua) -- Intense battles continued on Saturday between the Syrian army and the Islamic State (IS) group in the desert in eastern Syria, claiming the lives of 21 fighters from both sides, a war monitor reported.

Twelve Syrian soldiers and nine IS militants have been killed over the past 48 hours in the battles in the desert of the city of Sukhneh in the eastern countryside of Homs province, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The UK-based watchdog group said the death toll could likely rise due to the number of the critically wounded fighters.

The UK-based watchdog group said that 582 Syrian troops and allied forces as well as 221 IS militants have been killed in similar battles since March.

After losing key areas across the country, the IS now has a presence in the Syrian desert region in the remote eastern countryside of Homs province and Deir al-Zour province. Enditem

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