Syrian regime forces and Kurdish militia fought separate battles with the Islamic State group yesterday in a strategic area near the Iraqi and Turkish borders, a monitoring group said.

Forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad and fighters from the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) launched uncoordinated offensives against IS in the northeastern province of Hasakeh, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP that after three days of clashes, regime forces bolstered by fighters from Arab tribes had secured control over 23 villages in the centre of the province from IS.

Syrian state news agency SANA put the number at 31.

"IS has launched counter-attacks on regime checkpoints, while the regime fortifies its positions with support from local Arab tribes," Abdel Rahman added.