DAMASCUS, Aug. 21 -- The Syrian army and allied troops backed by Russian air force are so close to lay the largest siege on the Islamic State (IS) militants in the Syrian desert in the remote eastern countryside of Homs province, a military source told Xinhua and activists said.

After recently capturing Al-Sukhnah city in eastern Homs from IS, the Syrian army was moving from another direction to form a circle around IS.

On Sunday, the Syrian army captured the town of Taibeh, north of Al-Sukhnah, becoming only 15 km to impose a full siege on around 9,000 sq km of IS-controlled terrain in the Syrian desert, the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

The troops in Al-Sukhnah are advancing north of the city to meet with the troops who are closing in from Taibeh, said the source, adding that when the troops meet, the largest siege against IS will be in place.

So far, the IS militants have started fleeing through the remaining 15 km between Al-Sukhnah and Taibeh toward Deir al-Zour province in eastern Syria and the southern countryside of Hasakah province.

The months-long military operations in the Syrian desert by the Syrian army and allied fighters aimed to clear the desert from IS presence and to reach the administrative borders of Deir al-Zour to break the years-long IS siege on the city and the military forces trapped inside.

The operation is moving in that direction and breaking Deir al-Zour siege is now a priority for the Syrian army, the source told Xinhua.

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