BEIRUT (Reuters) - Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) fighters took control of the Syrian town of Maheen in the southwest of Homs province on Sunday (Nov 1) after an attack on government forces in the area, a monitoring group and a statement by the extremists said.

The attack killed and wounded at least 50 fighters on the government side and brought ISIS to within 20km of the main highway that links Damascus to Homs and cities further north, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

Clashes also raged on the outskirts of Sadad, a nearby town mostly inhabited by Christians, as ISIS fighters pressed their advance, the Observatory said.