Damascus, Jun 11 (IANS): The Syrian military forces on Wednesday recaptured key oil fields in central Syria, following battles with the Islamic State (IS) militants, a media report said.

The government forces fully captured the al-Jisel oil fields and the town with the same name in the eastern countryside of the central province of Homs, near the ancient city of Palmyra, which was overran by the IS militants last month, Xinhua reported citing the pan-Arab al-Mayadeen TV.

Over the past two days, the IS militants advanced into the al-Jisel town and its oil fields, forcing the Syrian army to call for back up forces, which eventually secured the area on Wednesday, according to the report.

The TV said the oil fields have not been affected by the battles, adding that clashes are currently taking place in the eastern outskirts of al-Jisel.

Separately, the Syrian air force killed at least 17 IS militants in the Bayarat area in eastern Homs on Wednesday, according to the report.

Throughout the long-running conflict, the Syrian government lost control of key oil and gas fields to the IS militants, mainly in the oil-rich province of Deir al-Zour in eastern Syria.