Syrian government forces launched attacks against the militants in the provinces of Damascus, Deir Ezzor, Homs, Aleppo, Idlib, and Daraa on Tuesday and killed a large number of them, the official SANA news agency reported.

In addition, the Syrian armed forces captured a large number of machine guns, sniper rifles, rocket launchers, mortar shells, anti-tank missiles, night vision goggles, and explosive devices.

In northwestern Aleppo province, “the army units killed dozens of terrorists in the areas of Erbeed, Kweires, al-Jadida, al-Amryeh, Mayir, al-Baik Farms and near Aleppo Central Prison and the Infantry School,” a military source told SANA.

In Aleppo city, the army killed and injured several militants, who were trying to enter the neighborhood of al-Sayyed Ali. A number of insurgents were also shot dead in the neighborhoods of Salah Eddin and Bustan al-Qasr.

In the provinces of Homs, Daraa, Deir Ezzor and Idlib, the army units killed dozens of militants and captured their weapons.

Meanwhile, the government troops seized a warehouse full of weapons and ammunition used by militants near the capital Damascus.

The Syrian army has recently conducted successful clean-up operations across the country, inflicting heavy losses on the militants.

Al-Qaeda linked groups are also said to be using stimulant drugs extensively as they launch many attacks at night and are engaged in gruesome battles.

In an interview with Argentina’s Clarin newspaper in May 2013, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said militants from 29 different countries were fighting against the government in different parts of the country.

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

NTJ/BA