Syria’s armed forces began a massive operation in areas near Latakia early Friday and cleared some villages from foreign-backed militants.

The Syrian army is moving forward in the outskirts Latakia in a bid to retake control of the two strategic areas of Marsad al-Sheikh Nabhan and al-Nabi al-Shaya.

The armed forces also targeted foreign terrorists in Dorin village, near Slinfah town, killing scores of the militants.

According to an informed source, there are several prominent names among the killed terrorists.

Army operations continue throughout the country against terrorist groups who have launched a massive bloodshed against the Syrian people and the government for more than two years.

The Syrian army often finds foreign nationals among militants killed or arrested in the operations.

The war in Syria 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 has boosted 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.

NTJ/BA