The Islamic State (IS) group said it had captured two Russian soldiers in the countryside of Syria's eastern province of Deir al-Zour, the group's Amaq news agency reported on Thursday.

The IS abducted two Russian soldiers and a Syrian soldier in the town of Sholah in the western desert of Deir al-Zour, Amaq reported.

Sholah is located on the main road to Deir al-Zour, where the Russia-backed Syrian forces are making strides in the battles to defeat IS in that oil-rich province.

source: Xinhua