Islamic State group 'ousted' from Syria's Idlib

The Islamic State group has been forced out entirely from the northwestern Syrian province of Idlib, following a military push by hardline rebel groups.

Some 400 people, including Islamic State fighters, surrendered on Tuesday to a collection of rebel groups, according to a spokesman for the Jaish al-Nasr faction.

"We hit them with artillery in the town of Al-Khowein," said Abu al-Majd al-Homsi.

IS previously held large swathes of northern and central Syria, including parts of Hama, Homs and Aleppo provinces.

The group has now been fully ousted in Idlib, Hama and Aleppo provinces, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

IS militants are still present, though diminished, in Homs, Dier az-Zour, Hasaka and pockets around Damascus.

The Syrian regime has begun a fierce government assault at retaking territory in these areas.