Islamic State seizes Syria's largest oil field

Fighters from the Islamic State group have seized Syria's largest oil field on the Iraqi border, forcing the withdrawal of rival fighters. 

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said, the Nusra Front, which has controlled al-Omar oil field since late last year, abandoned the facility without firing a bullet.  

By seizing the oil field, Islamic State now controls most oil and gas fields in the eastern province and the surrounding countryside. 

The group now controls an area of Syria, five times the size of neighboring Lebanon.  

Earlier this week, the Islamic State seized another town on the Iraqi frontier from Nusra, securing both sides of the border crossing.

Source: ALJAZEERA