Heavy shelling by the Islamic State (JI) jihadists killed at least seven people Sunday night in Deir ez-Zor, a city in eastern Syria, several of which are still held by the regime’s troops Of Bashar al-Assad, reported the Syrian Observatory of Human Rights (OSDH).

The jihadists continued to shell Monday the areas controlled by the army, added the OSDH.

The EI occupies most of the province of Deir ez-Zor, apart from a part of the city of the same name and a nearby air base. The jihadists have been besieging the neighborhoods in the hands of the army for nearly two years.

The Syrian regime and its Russian ally have carried out regular air drops in the besieged area in order to help the 200,000 inhabitants who are facing shortages of food and medicine.