World Bulletin / News Desk

Syrian forces have continued their advance toward the headquarters of the ISILterrorist group in the northern city of Raqqah, a monitor says.

Troops on Monday reached within 24 km (15 miles) of Lake Assad, the key reservoir in the Euphrates Valley contained by the Tabqa Dam, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. 

The London-based monitor's head Rami Abdel Rahman said Syrian government forces were “reinforcing their positions” south of the dam which is 40 kilometers from Raqqah.