Syrian troops break militants siege of two military bases in Idlib

Syrian troops have managed to break a month-long militants siege on two key military bases in the northwestern province of Idlib.
According to an opposition watchdog, at least 21 militants were killed after the Syrian army launched an operation to lift the siege on the Wadi Deif and Hamdiya military camps on Sunday, AFP reported.

Government troops are now in control of the strategic Damascus-Aleppo international highway in the area, reopening a supply route for the army.

Syrian troops also clashed with militants in Idlib’s Jisr al-Shoghour, killing a number of terrorists.

There are also reports of clashes between government forces and militants in several other cities, including Aleppo, Homs, Latakia, Deir al-Zour and Damascus suburbs.

Syria has been gripped by a deadly unrest since March 2011, and many people, including large numbers of government forces, have been killed in the violence.

Damascus says the chaos is being orchestrated from outside the country, and there are reports that a very large number of the militants are foreign nationals.

The Syrian government says the West and its regional allies including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey are supporting the militants.

Several international human rights organizations have accused militants operating in Syria of committing war crimes.