Scores of foreign-backed militants slain on Damascus outskirts

Syrian Army soldiers have killed dozens of foreign-sponsored militants during mop-up operations on the outskirts of the capital Damascus.

On Monday, a number of militants were killed during intense clashes with Syrian troops in the town of Yelda, located on the southern outskirts of Damascus, the official SANA news agency reported.

The Syrian forces also engaged in a firefight with gunmen in the Najha area, and killed scores of them in the process.

In addition, several terrorist hideouts were raided by the Syrian forces during mop-up operations in the towns of al-Hejjeira and al-Ziyabiyeh. Dozens of foreign-backed gunmen were killed and a large amount of weapons were also destroyed.

A unit of the Syrian Army also killed a group of militants in the Jubar district.

Moreover, Syrian troops stormed a terrorist hideout in the al-Sayyeda Zainab area, and shot dead scores of militants. They also destroyed various kinds of munitions.

A unit of government forces also killed a number of armed men in the city of Harasta as it struck two vehicles in the area.

The unrest in Syria began in March 2011, and many people, including large numbers of soldiers and security personnel, have been killed in the violence.

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