Members of the Syrian government forces stand on the entrance to Deir Ezzor city on September 3, 2017.

:: Syrian government soldiers and allied fighters have advanced further towards a government enclave besieged by ISIS in the country’s east, a monitor said on Sunday.

Syria’s army, backed by Russian military support, has been advancing towards Deir Ezzor city for weeks on several fronts.

On Sunday, forces advanced to within 10 kilometers to the west of the city, the provincial capital, and a besieged military base, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

They also seized the Al-Kharata oilfield in resource-rich Deir Ezzor province, the monitor said.

ISIS militants have held much of Deir Ezzor province and besieged government forces and civilians inside Deir Ezzor city since 2015.

The city’s residents have survived in part thanks to airdropped humanitarian assistance during the years-long siege.

Syria’s army is advancing towards the besieged enclave from several fronts including from Raqqa province to the west and central Homs province to the south.