Syria govt retakes town from IS: reports

Syrian government forces have retaken the town of Khanaser from the Islamic State group, state media and opposition activists say.

Syrians displaced by ongoing internal conflict. (AAP) Source: AAP

Syrian government forces backed by heavy Russian air strikes have recaptured a town seized by the Islamic State group near the road used by the army to access Aleppo, reports say.

The town of Khanaser is located 50km to the southeast of Aleppo city. IS captured it two days ago, the opposition UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. In a separate report, Syrian state media said the army had "restored security and stability" to Khanaser.

It was not immediately clear if the road to Aleppo, which has been cut as a result of the attack, was reopened. The government has been forced to use the Khanaser road to reach Aleppo because insurgents control the main highway to the city further west.