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| Islamic State 'seizes last Syria-Iraq border crossing' | Islamic State 'seizes last Syria-Iraq border crossing' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Islamic State militants have seized the last Syrian government-controlled border crossing between Syria and Iraq, a Syrian activist group says. | |
| Government forces withdrew from al-Tanf - known as al-Waleed in Iraq - crossing as IS advanced, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said. | |
| The loss of al-Tanf to IS follows the group's takeover of the ancient city of Palmyra on Thursday. | The loss of al-Tanf to IS follows the group's takeover of the ancient city of Palmyra on Thursday. |
| The US says that fighting the militants will be a "difficult challenge". | The US says that fighting the militants will be a "difficult challenge". |
| Islamic State now controls "more than 95,000 sq km (36,679 sq miles)" of Syria, which is 50% of the country's entire territory, the SOHR said. | Islamic State now controls "more than 95,000 sq km (36,679 sq miles)" of Syria, which is 50% of the country's entire territory, the SOHR said. |
| The militants dominate the provinces of Deir Ezzor and Raqqa and have a strong presence in Hasakeh, Aleppo, Homs and Hama. | The militants dominate the provinces of Deir Ezzor and Raqqa and have a strong presence in Hasakeh, Aleppo, Homs and Hama. |
| However, correspondents say there are large areas under IS control in the east that are not very significant strategically. | However, correspondents say there are large areas under IS control in the east that are not very significant strategically. |
| On Thursday the United Nations said it had received reports that Syrian forces in Palmyra prevented civilians from leaving, ahead of its fall to Islamic State. | On Thursday the United Nations said it had received reports that Syrian forces in Palmyra prevented civilians from leaving, ahead of its fall to Islamic State. |
| It said it was "deeply concerned" about the plight of those remaining in the area, amid reports of summary executions. | It said it was "deeply concerned" about the plight of those remaining in the area, amid reports of summary executions. |
| IS has also overrun the World Heritage site adjacent to the modern city, raising concerns about its future. The militants have previously demolished ancient sites that pre-date Islam. | IS has also overrun the World Heritage site adjacent to the modern city, raising concerns about its future. The militants have previously demolished ancient sites that pre-date Islam. |
| 'Not losing' | 'Not losing' |
| The group has also been making gains in Iraq, capturing Ramadi after weeks of fighting. | The group has also been making gains in Iraq, capturing Ramadi after weeks of fighting. |
| The US has acknowledged the militants' gains are a "setback" for coalition forces targeting IS, but President Barack Obama insisted the US was "not losing" the war with the group. | The US has acknowledged the militants' gains are a "setback" for coalition forces targeting IS, but President Barack Obama insisted the US was "not losing" the war with the group. |
| "There's no doubt there was a tactical setback, although Ramadi had been vulnerable for a very long time," he told The Atlantic magazine in an interview published on Thursday. | "There's no doubt there was a tactical setback, although Ramadi had been vulnerable for a very long time," he told The Atlantic magazine in an interview published on Thursday. |
| "The training of Iraqi security forces, the fortifications, the command-and-control systems are not happening fast enough in Anbar, in the Sunni parts of the country." | "The training of Iraqi security forces, the fortifications, the command-and-control systems are not happening fast enough in Anbar, in the Sunni parts of the country." |
| White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the problem of IS was "not going to be solved overnight". | White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the problem of IS was "not going to be solved overnight". |
| "Until we're able to build up local forces on the ground in Syria who can take the fight to Isil [IS] in their own country," he said, "this is going to continue to be a difficult challenge." | "Until we're able to build up local forces on the ground in Syria who can take the fight to Isil [IS] in their own country," he said, "this is going to continue to be a difficult challenge." |
| Why is Palmyra so important? | Why is Palmyra so important? |
| Saving history from the jihadists | Saving history from the jihadists |
| IS threat to 'Venice of the Sands' | IS threat to 'Venice of the Sands' |
| Your memories of Palmyra | Your memories of Palmyra |
| The US and its coalition partners have carried out 18 air strikes against Islamic State targets in Syria and Iraq since Wednesday, according to a statement from the Combined Joint Task Force. | The US and its coalition partners have carried out 18 air strikes against Islamic State targets in Syria and Iraq since Wednesday, according to a statement from the Combined Joint Task Force. |
| Eight of the strikes in Syria targeted tactical units, a staging area and trench system, as well as fighting positions and vehicles near Al Hasakah, Aleppo, Ar Raqqah and Kobane, the statement said. | Eight of the strikes in Syria targeted tactical units, a staging area and trench system, as well as fighting positions and vehicles near Al Hasakah, Aleppo, Ar Raqqah and Kobane, the statement said. |
| Meanwhile, the United States has admitted that two children had probably been killed in an air strike last year. | Meanwhile, the United States has admitted that two children had probably been killed in an air strike last year. |
| US Central Command said the strike on 5-6 November, near Harim City, was aimed at the al-Qaeda-linked Khorasan Group. | US Central Command said the strike on 5-6 November, near Harim City, was aimed at the al-Qaeda-linked Khorasan Group. |
| There had been no indications prior to the strikes that children were present, officials said. | There had been no indications prior to the strikes that children were present, officials said. |