beirut/erbil islamic state self-proclaimed caliphate verge final defeat friday syrian government force capture last major city one side border iraqi force take last substantial town losses either side frontier appear reduce caliphate rule millions people single syrian border town village bank euphrates iraq patch nearby desert officials side border say final defeat could come swiftly although still fear reconstitute guerrilla force capable wag attack without territory defend iraq prime minister haidar abadi announce government force capture al-qaim border town euphrates spill syria iraq leave village rawa river opposite bank still hand ultra-hardline militants sweep third iraq 2014. syrian side government force declare victory deir al-zor last major city country eastern desert militants still presence government force 40 km away albu kamal syrian town across border al-qaim prepare final confrontation u.s.-led international coalition bomb islamic state support grind ally side frontier say fall al-qaim militant group thousand fighters leave hole two towns either side border expect try flee cognisant annihilate leaders spokesman u.s. colonel ryan dillon say continue hunt small areas ... see flee desert hide attempt devolve back insurgent terrorist group say dillon idea virtual caliphate defeat near term still go threat group leader abu bakr al-baghdadi believe hide desert near frontier drive year two de facto capitals iraq mosul syria raqqa islamic state squeeze ever-shrinking pocket desert straddle frontier enemies include regional state global power iraq face army shi ite arm group back u.s.-led international coalition iran syria u.s.-led coalition support alliance kurdish arab militias north east euphrates iran russia support government president bashar al-assad syrian side friday government victory deir al-zor west bank euphrates end two month battle control city center syria oil production islamic state years besiege government enclave army advance relieve early september start battle jihadist-held part city arm force cooperation ally force liberate city deir al-zor completely clutch daesh terrorist organization state media report use arabic acronym islamic state engineer units search streets build deir al-zor mine booby trap leave behind islamic state fighters syrian military source tell reuters source add believe final battle albu kamal border town would involve fierce resistance many fighters surrender elsewhere fight death able anything say besiege directions supply collapse morale therefore organization elements strength finish albu kamal fall daesh organization cease exist leadership structure military source say tantamount group scatter individuals long organization headquarter leadership place areas control iraq abadi congratulate force capture al-qaim record time hours commanders announce enter early day seize border checkpoint road albu kamal syria iraq joint operations command say territory leave capture rawa small village opposite bank euphrates iraq carry final campaign crush islamic state caliphate also mount military offensive north kurds hold independence referendum september islamic state verge defeat fresh losses syria iraq