Syrian army recaptures key town near Damascus

Syrian army recaptures key town near Damascus
Thu Apr 25, 2013 16:20:16

Syrian forces retake control of a key town near the capital city of Damascus, after five weeks of clashes with foreign-backed militants, Syrian state media say.

The soldiers captured the strategic town of Otaybah on Thursday and seized a large number of militants were also killed.

 

Otaybah is said to have been an arms route for the militants.

 

Syrian officials say they also discovered tunnels used by the militants to transfer weapons.

 

The Syrian government says the chaos that has gripped the country for more than two years is being orchestrated from outside.

 

Syrian President Bashar a-Assad has said that if the militant groups take power in Syria, they could destabilize the entire Middle East for decades.

 

The United States and Qatar recently announced their readiness to boost their support for the militants operating inside Syria, in an act of foreign interference in the internal affairs of the crisis-hit country.

 

The Syrian government says the chaos in the country is being orchestrated from outside.

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