SYRIAN and allied forces claimed new victories against Isis and the US-backed opposition along the southern border yesterday.

The official Sana news agency said troops had struck north from the Iraqi border to al-Dolei’yat, taking control of the oil pipeline to Iraq between the T3 pumping station east of Palmyra and the T2 station in Deir Ezzor province.

And another thrust across the eastern desert brought the army to the outskirts of T2 and the air base there.