An offensive by the jihadist Islamic State of Iraq and Greater Syria (ISIS) group against Syrian government-held territory has killed at least 74 people in the past 24 hours, an activist group said Friday.

It said the toll included at least 32 jihadists, 30 soldiers and 12 members of the ruling Baath party of President Bashar Assad.

South of Hasakeh city, 11 soldiers were killed in an ISIS attack on an army position and 17 jihadists were killed, it said.

In Raqqa province, which is mainly held by ISIS, the jihadists attacked two positions of the army's 17th Division, sparking fighting that left dozens of dead and wounded, the Observatory said.

ISIS jihadists are seeking to expand the fiefdom they have carved out along the Euphrates Valley by taking the battle to neighboring government-held areas after routing rival rebels in Deir Al-Zor province in Syria's east earlier this year.

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