IS jailbreak, attacks in Syria, Iraq raise alarm; scores die

By QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA and SARAH EL DEEB
Associated Press

BAGHDAD (AP) — Members of the Islamic State group have launched two sophisticated, deadly attacks in Syria and Iraq, including an attempt to break into a prison where suspected extremists are being held by U.S.-backed fighters. Iraqi and Syrian officials and activists said Friday’s attacks left 11 Iraqi soldiers dead and at least seven U.S.-backed Syrian fighters. At least 23 IS gunmen were also killed when about 100 extremists tried to storm a prison in northeast Syria housing about 3,000 suspected militants, including former IS commanders. The attacks are believed to be the largest since IS lost the final sliver of land it held nearly three years ago.