Islamic State militants have launched a fierce assault on government-held areas in the eastern Syrian city of Deir al-Zour, with dozens reportedly killed.
Twelve government soldiers and 20 IS fighters were killed, said the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
At least two civilians were also killed in IS rocket fire on government-controlled parts of the city, it added.
The jihadists have besieged government-held parts of the city, which borders Iraq, since early 2015.
IS already controls half of the city as well as most of the surrounding province, which shares the same name.
Deir al-Zour connects the militant group's de facto "capital" in Syria, Raqqa, to territory it controls in Iraq.