Syria's opposition regains many areas from regime forces

Syria's opposition managed to regain control over areas controlled by regime forces.

Opposition sources said their fighters stormed into Tabah village in Lajat area of Daraa governorate and took full control of it, according to Sky News.

During the operation, at least 20 Syrian regime soldiers were killed, the sources said, noting that the opposition forces also managed to take over weapons, ammunitions, military armored vehicles left over by withdrawn government forces.

In the central Syrian governorate of Hama, the opposition armed troops also seized Mashik village and took 20 regime soldiers captive.

The violence in Syria began in March 2011. The middle eastern country has been crippled by a brutal civil war.

Since then, the United Nations estimates more than 200,000 people have died in the clashes between President Bashar al-Assad's government and rebel forces who want him out.

The UN's Refugee Agency says 3.7 million people have fled Syria to neighboring countries, and over half of those refugees are children.

In July 2012, the International Red Cross said the violence in Syria had become so widespread that it was in a state of civil war.