Syrian troops stage mop-up operations in Damascus

The Syrian army continued operations against militant groups in the capital's outskirts, killing scores of militants and destroying a huge quantity of their weaponry and munitions. A military source told the Syrian Arab News Agency that the Syrian troops pursued insurgents in the farms Southwest of the town of Ras al-Aein in Yabroud area, Damascus Countryside, killing a number of antigovernment fighters, including Ahmad Seddik, and Rashed Shahin in Rankous farms. Several hideouts and dens of the militants were also destroyed in the mountains near the town of Madaya, and Wadi Moussa in al-Tal area. In Douma area, army's operations in Aliya farms resulted in destroying a large convoy of insurgents' weapons. Meantime, the Syrian soldiers targeted foreign-backed rebels' gatherings in Jobar area, killing and wounding a large number of them. The conflict in Syria started in March 2011, when sporadic pro-reform protests turned into a massive insurgency following the intervention of western and regional states. The unrest, which took in terrorist groups from across Europe, the Middle-East and North Africa, has transpired as one of the bloodiest conflicts in recent history. As the foreign-backed insurgency in Syria continues without an end in sight, the US government has boosted its political and military support to Takfiri extremists. Washington has remained indifferent to warnings by Russia and other world powers about the consequences of arming militant groups.