Thanks to Putin for clearing the way.

Via Free Beacon:

The Islamic State has continued to make gains in central Syria amid a barrage of Russian airstrikes that have mostly targeted rebel groups elsewhere in the country, according to reports.

The terrorist group is reported to have seized the town of Mahin in central Homs province during the weekend. Mahin is located near a strategic highway that links Homs to the capital Damascus. Islamic State militants also captured large arms depots in Mahin.

Additionally, the Islamic State (IS, also known as ISIS or ISIL) has taken control of some villages in eastern Aleppo province, the scene of intense clashes between rebel groups and Syrian government forces backed by Iranian troops and Russian airstrikes. The advances have allowed the terrorist group to expand from its current stronghold in northern and eastern Syria.

“ISIS maintains its ability to threaten both regime and rebel-held terrain, largely undeterred by Russian airstrikes,” wrote Genevieve Casagrande and Jodi Brignola with the Institute for the Study of War. “ISIS continues to contest the regime-held town of Safira in the southeastern countryside of Aleppo, threatening the regime’s primary ground line of communication to Aleppo City.”

They noted that the Islamic State’s capture of Mahin “may spark a response from Russian warplanes in the coming days.”