Islamic State bombings rock key Syrian gas field

The Islamic State group has blown up a number of pumping stations at al-Shaer gas field in central Syria, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Monday.

"There were three huge explosions there carried out by IS on Monday," said Rami Abdel Rahman, the head of Syrian Observatory.

The Shaer gas field - one of the biggest in the central province of Homs - has been the site of fierce fighting between IS militants and Syrian government loyalists.

Abdel Rahman said IS was believed to have blown up several of al-Shaer's pumping stations. He had no immediate word on casualties.

The explosions reportedly even shook Palmyra, the ancient oasis city about 50 kilometres (30 miles) southeast of al-Shaer, according to reports posted on Twitter.

Syria's army recaptured Palmyra from IS on 27 March, after about 10 months of jihadist rule over the city.

IS seized the Shaer field last week, but Syrian armed forces and pro-government militias have fought hard to get it back.

Syrian state news agency SANA on Monday evening said government forces had seized a hilltop just west of the field, but did not mention the blasts.

IS has targeted oil and gas facilities in Iraq and Syria to fund its self-proclaimed Islamic "caliphate".

Also on Monday, at least five civilians were killed in shelling between regime forces and IS fighters in the northeastern city of Deir Az-Zour.

"Five people were killed and 10 others injured in IS mortar fire on al-Jurah neighbourhood in Deir Az-Zour, which is controlled by the regime," Amer Huwaidi, a Syrian activist told The New Arab.

"The children and a woman were also killed in coalition airstrikes on the city of Al-Bukamal in Deir Az-Zour province," which is witnessing intense fighting between IS and regime forces according to Huwaidi.

More than 270,000 people have been killed since Syria's conflict erupted in March 2011 with protests against President Bashar al-Assad.

Agencies contributed to this report.