DHAKA: Forces loyal to president Bashar Assad hammered the eastern Syrian city of Raqqa with more than two dozen air strikes on Sunday, targeting areas controlled by the Islamic State militant group.

A monitoring group said, reports The Jerusalem Post.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which has tracked violence on all sides of the conflict that began in March 2011, said at least 31 fighters from the Islamic State were killed and dozens wounded in the air strikes that hit Raqqa city and the surrounding areas.

It said 26 strikes on Sunday hit Islamic State buildings, including the military court and bases in the city.

BDST: 2152 HRS, AUG 17, 2014