Syrian forces retake control of Damascus suburb of Douma

Syrian forces have retaken control of the Damascus suburb of Douma, inflicting heavy casualties on armed groups fighting against the government, Press TV has learnt.

According to Syrian authorities, a large number of gunmen have been killed and many others injured during the days-long military operation to clear the city of the rebels.

Many terrorists were also arrested and a number of others were forced to flee. Some reports suggest that most of the militants operating in Douma were from different Arab nations.

Syrian troops also seized large amounts of weapons and ammunitions and destroyed several weapons-making facilities in the city.

Meanwhile, armed groups have destroyed a high-voltage electricity line in the east of Syria and opened fire on a railway station near the western city of Homs.

Syria has been experiencing a deadly unrest since mid-March 2011. The violence has claimed the lives of many people, including large numbers of security forces.

While the West and the Syrian opposition say the government is responsible for the killings, Damascus blames ”outlaws, saboteurs and armed terrorist gangs” for the unrest, insisting that it is being orchestrated from abroad.