THE Syrian army liberated a swathe of territory from Islamic State (Isis) in southern Aleppo province yesterday, in the race for the extremists’ stronghold Raqqa.

Troops captured seven villages east of Khanasser, bringing the total in the previous 24 hours to 13.

And in the south, near Damascus, the army surrounded a pocket of al-Qaida-affiliated Nusra Front extremists in east Ghouta, isolating them from the main territory of the “moderate” Army of Islam.

Al-Masdar News reported that the army had shifted the focus of its anti-Isis offensive from the deep advance to capture Tabqah airfield to the southern shore of Lake Jaboul, in an attempt to cut the supply line from Raqqa to north Aleppo.

Elsewhere, government forces were reported to be encamped west of the ancient city of Palmyra, where Russian air strikes hit anti-government positions.

The liberation of Palmyra would clear the road to the Isis-besieged city Deir Ezzor and Raqqa, the prize coveted by the US-led Middle Eastern coalition.

Meanwhile, the Kurdish YPG militia, backed by the US and Russians , has launched a new offensive to extend its zone of control southwards towards Raqqa.

And in north Aleppo, a coalition of insurgent groups have made modest advances against Isis in the past week with artillery support from the Turkish army, capturing villages including Doudyan.