According to our correspondent, the military units on Thursday launched the operation to clear the districts of Zayabiya and al-Hossainia, near the shrine Sayyida Zainab (PBUH), of terrorists groups.

The new operation came after the Syrian troops gained control of the nearby district of al-Bahdaliye in fierce clashes with foreign-backed militants in the region. 

The three districts were the main conduit for supplying military and non-military equipment to the terrorist groups.

The militants have been also using Bahdaliye District to target Sayyida Zainab shrine before Syrian army forces took full control of the area on Thursday.

Syrian state television said late on Wednesday that the government troops managed to push large number of the militants out of the region.

The shrine is located 16 kilometers (10 miles) south of the capital. Hazrat Zainab is the daughter of the first Shia Imam, Imam Ali (PBUH), and Hazrat Fatemeh (PBUH) -- Prophet Mohammad's daughter.

This is while large explosions were also ripped through suburbs of Damascus on Wednesday as the violence in the two year old crisis continued across the country.

Some clashes were also reported in the northern suburb of Irbin.

In Rastan, north of Homs Province, the army troops were also engaged in massive mop-up operations against the militant groups.