Islamic State has taken areas in east Syria, says Head of US-backed Syrian Kurdish force

Beirut: The head of the US-backed Syrian Kurdish force said on Friday that Islamic State group had taken control over some areas in eastern Syria.

"Due to the recent developments, there is increased movement by Islamic State mercenaries in the Syrian desert, in the south and west of Deir Al-Zor and the countryside of al-Raqqa," Mazloum Abdi said in a press conference, referring to areas in the east of the country.

This comes after thousands of people fled the central Syrian city of Homs overnight and into Friday morning, a war monitoring group and residents said, as rebel forces sought to push their lightning offensive against government forces further south.