REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, DAMASCUS -- The Islamic State (IS/ISIS) militants on captured on Saturday parts of a northern neighborhood in the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria, after killing and wounding over 47 government troops, a monitor group reported.

The capture comes after large numbers of IS fighters unleashed the attack against the northern neighborhood in Palmyra in the eastern countryside of the central Homs province, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The UK-based watchdog group said 29 IS fighter were killed during Saturday's offensive, while 47 government troops were either killed or wounded.

In an earlier report Saturday, the Observatory said the IS militants captured the al-Hail gas field, 40 km northeast of Palmyra.

It said the capture of that important gas field came after intense battles with the Syrian government forces, adding that the clashes there still continue amid Syrian airstrikes on the IS positions near Palmyra.

The gas field is important as it feeds the many electricity generating stations in the Homs, the countryside of Homs and of the northern city of Aleppo.

Other opposition groups said tens of the Syrian soldiers, as well as tanks and armored vehicles were stationing in that area, making it the first defense line for Palmyra.

Meanwhile, a source familiar with the situation in Palmyra said the Syrian army sent reinforcements to protect the ancient oasis city from the attack of the IS.

He stressed that the ancient part of the city is still safe and under the government control, adding that intense clashes are still raging at the outskirts of the city.

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