The Arabic news network’s correspondent in Syria said Monday that the Syrian army has eliminated militants in the Ein al Isa village of Raqqa city.

Meanwhile, an army official told Al Alam that government forces have also gained considerable ground in the city of Homs.

On Sunday, militants in Syria shot down a government helicopter near the northern city of Aleppo.

The civilian helicopter was carrying exam papers for schoolchildren and all seven people on board, including the deputy head of the Education Ministry were killed.

In a video released by the militants recently, advanced anti-aircraft missiles have been used to bring the helicopter down.

Syrian militants have recently used advanced weaponry supplied to them by the Western and several regional governments in a bid to help them regain their lost ground and forestall the advances of the Syrian army.

The unrest in Syria erupted over two years ago and many people, including large numbers of Syrian soldiers and security personnel, have been killed in the violence.

The Syrian government says the chaos is being orchestrated from outside the country. Last month, President Bashar al-Assad said militants from as many as 29 different countries are operating inside Syria.