IS claims responsibility for Aleppo attack that killed two Syrian soldiers

The Islamic State (IS) group claimed responsibility on Saturday for an attack in northern Syria that killed two soldiers.

The extremist militant group made the claim in a statement on its Telegram channel. Reuters could not independently verify the claim.

Earlier on Saturday, the Syrian Defence Ministry said two soldiers had been killed by unidentified assailants near Manbij in the northeast of the Aleppo province, but provided no further details.

The attack came amid a series of assaults claimed by IS since February, when the jihadist group announced what it described as a new phase of operations against the government of President Ahmed al-Sharaa.

The Syrian government has expanded its control in parts of northern and eastern Syria, and U.S. forces have begun withdrawing from some positions in the country's northeast, according to Syrian military and security sources. These regions were previously controlled by Kurdish forces which spearheaded the fight against IS during the conflict in Syria.