Syrian army battles Islamic State for third day near key road

AMMAN/BEIRUT (Reuters) - The Syrian army and Islamic State militants waged fierce battles on Wednesday around Khanaser, a strategic town southeast of Aleppo, where an attack by the jihadist group has cut the main land route to the city during three days of fighting. A government military source denied reports Khanaser had fallen to Islamic State. "They are around Khanaser - it is under their sniper fire," the source told Reuters.