Syrian army advances in Aleppo

The Syrian army has carried out a mop-up operation in the northwestern city of Aleppo, making more advances against foreign-backed militants operating in the country.

The army managed to retake a number of buildings in the district of al-Layramoun, considered the northern gateway into Aleppo.

The military can now block foreign-backed militants smuggling weapons into Aleppo from the northern part of the city.

The success is the latest in a series of military operations against militants who receive military aid from their supporters in Western countries and their regional allies, especially Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey.

On Friday, Syrian troops ambushed the Takfiri militants near the historic Christian village of Ma’loula at dawn with government sources saying that as many as 150 militants were killed in the attack.

Syrian troops have stepped up their mop-up operations in the strategic region, whose full liberation will give the government forces a significant edge over the militants.

Turmoil has gripped Syria for nearly three years.

In a Saturday message to Pope Francis, President Bashar al-Assad censured the “military, logistic and material support being provided to the terrorists by neighboring countries.”

Assad also said that his government is determined to protect Syrians of all religions.

According to statistics compiled by the United Nations, more than 100,000 people have been killed and millions of others displaced due to the turmoil in the country.