According to Al Alam reporter, army soldiers clashed with foreign-backed militants in the town of al-Khalediye, located on the southwestern outskirts of Homs, during which they successfully gained control over the whole area on Monday.

The army also found and released a number of abducted citizens in militants’ dens during its door-to-door search.

Syrian government forces say militants were equipped with heavy weaponries and backed up by several snipers positioned in different parts of the town.

Following a recent US call for an immediate arms delivery to militants fighting the Syrian government, insurgents announced the reception of new advanced weapons from their foreign supporters.

There are also reports of heavy clashes in several other towns near Homs including Bab al-Hawa and Jour al-Shayah.

The Syrian army has been advancing apace in Homs, looking to break a lengthy stalemate in the city, which has been the scene of fierce fighting over the past year.

The two sides have been trading artillery fire in Homs for months, but the army started an all-out operation on May 30th to purge the city from foreign-backed militants.

The Syrian crisis started in March 2011, when 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 boosts its political and military support to Takfiri extremists.

Washington has remained indifferent about warnings by Russia and other world powers about the consequences of arming militant groups.

SHI/AA