DAMASCUS, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- One internal security officer was killed in a suicide attack carried out by Islamic State (IS) militants targeting a security checkpoint in the eastern Syrian city of Mayadeen on Friday, state-run Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported.

According to SANA, two attackers approached the checkpoint. Security forces shot and killed one assailant, while the second detonated his explosives, resulting in the death of the security officer.

The SANA report did not provide further details about civilian casualties.

Although IS lost control of its last territorial stronghold in Syria years ago, its sleeper cells continue to stage hit-and-run attacks, particularly in the desert areas of Deir al-Zour province in eastern Syria. ■