The Syrian army has retaken Deir al-Zour, the last major stronghold of ISIS in Syria, with the city completely liberated, according to the Syrian state TV.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said the government forces had taken control of the city on Thursday.

The militant group is now confined to just a few pockets in Deir al-Zour province, while some 350,000 civilians in the province have been forced to flee their homes.

Most of the city was held under the control of ISIS since 2014, and is considered to be of strategic importance for its closeness to the Iraqi borders, making it very important for ISIS.