Syrian rebels seize swathes of south as Islamic State retreats

FILE PHOTO: Free Syrian Army fighters gesture as Turkish military vehicles drive in the Syrian rebel-held town of al-Rai while heading towards the northern Syrian city of al-Bab, Syria January 9, 2017. To match Analysis MIDEAST-CRISIS/SYRIA-WAR REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi/File Photo

AMMAN (Reuters) - Syrian rebels have seized large areas from Islamic State in southern Syria in the last two weeks as the jihadist group prepares to defend its Raqqa stronghold in the north from a U.S.-backed assault, rebel commanders say.

The advances by Western-backed Free Syrian Army (FSA) factions have helped to reduce the risk of Islamic State fighters regrouping in areas near Damascus and the Jordanian border as they face major defeats in Syria and Iraq.