The attack near Qalamoun, north-east of the capital, killed dozens of what the official news agency SANA called "terrorists".

The agency, citing an unnamed military official, said the dead included militants from the al-Qaeda linked al-Nusra Front.

The attack happened between the Christian town of Maaloula and the town of Yabroud, where government forces and foreign backed militant groups are fighting.

Syrian state television showed footage of dozens of bodies lying in a mountainous area, with weapons next to them.

The Syrian army also conducted successful clean-up operations across the country on Thursday.

The army continued its operations in the villages of Jadideh, Erbid, Kwairis, al-Zarzour, Mayer and al-Ziyarah in Aleppo, killing scores of the militants.

Elsewhere, in Taftanaz, Maarat al-Nua’man and Maarat Misrin in Idlib countryside, the Syrian army killed a number of the militants after storming their hideouts.

Moreover, in the countryside of the capital city of Damascus, the Syrian troops killed scores of the militants during their mop-up operations.

In and around the city of Adra, members of several armed militant groups were also killed during similar operations.

Syria has been gripped by deadly unrest since 2011. According to reports, Western powers and their regional allies -- especially Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey -- are supporting the militants operating inside the country.

NJF/NJF