Civilians fleeing Raqqa are seen at a bus station in Aleppo, Syria, on July 27, 2017. Civilians have recently been fleeing Raqqa, as a result of the battles in Raqqa waged by the Russian-backed Syrian army and the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to drive IS out of its stronghold in Raqqa. (Xinhua Photo)

DAMASCUS, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian army said Saturday it had carried out an airdrop of forces in the countryside of Raqqa province, the de facto capital of the Islamic State (IS) group.

The airdrop was carried out overnight 20 km behind the lines of the IS militants south of the Kudair town on the administrative borders of Raqqa.

The airdrop enabled the Syrian army to advance 12 km southeast of Raqqa, during which the army captured the village of Beir Marhoum.

The army said the operation is part of the Syrian army battle against the IS in the Syrian desert.

This comes as the Syrian army has already captured areas in the western and southern countryside of Raqqa, becoming at the outskirts of the city of Ma'dan, the last IS-held city in the eastern countryside of Raqqa.