Syrian troops kill scores of foreign-backed militants in mop-up operations

Syrian Army soldiers have killed scores of foreign-backed militants fighting government forces during recent nationwide mop-up operations.

On Sunday, a number of armed men were killed during intense clashes with Syrian troops near the al-Sharia school in the town of Daraya, located 8 kilometers (5 miles) southwest of the capital Damascus, the official SANA news agency reported.

Syrian Army forces also defused an explosive device, weighing about 30 kilograms, in the Cornish neighborhood of the town.

Government soldiers also clashed with foreign-sponsored gunmen in Douma city, situated about 10 kilometers northeast of the capital, killing dozens in the process.

In addition, Syrian troops clashed with militants in al-Nabk city, located 81 kilometers (50 miles) north of Damascus. Dozens of gunmen were killed and wounded during the heavy clashes.

Syrian soldiers seized various kinds of weapons and munitions, including rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) launchers and machine guns.

Moreover, Syrian Army forces raided several terrorist hideouts in the towns of Kafr Batna, al-Meleiha and Sha’aba, shooting dead scores of militants. Syrian troops seized a large amount of munitions after the clashes.

Separately, units of the Syrian Army attacked gunmen and killed a large number of them in the towns of Aqraba, al-Hejjeira, al-Ziyabiyeh and Yalda.

Also on Sunday, Syrian troops engaged armed men in the town of Tasneen in Homs Province.

Dozens of gunmen were killed and wounded during the heavy clashes. Syrian Army soldiers also found seven bombs in the town and defused them.

Syrian forces also attacked gunmen in Nawa city and Busra al-Hariri, killng a large number of militants.

Syria has been experiencing unrest since March 2011. Many people, including large numbers of security forces, have been killed in the turmoil.

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.