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

The Syrian armed forces also captured a large number of machine guns, sniper rifles, rocket launchers, mortar shells and explosive devices.

In Aleppo, the army units destroyed several cars full of weapons and ammunition and killed a number of militants.

In Idlib, the army destroyed eight cars equipped with anti-aircraft guns.

Government troops attacked groups of “terrorists” in the Damascus suburbs of Khan al-Sheeh and Daraya city, killing all of them.

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

Recent investigations by various media outlets have found that the foreign-backed militants are taking amphetamine stimulants to stay on their feet in exhausting battles against Syrian government forces.

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.

According to the United Nations, more than 100,000 people have been killed and millions displaced due to the violence.

On December 9, Syria urged the United Nations to stop Saudi Arabia from "supporting Al-Qaeda-linked militants" and fanning the flames of "terrorism" in the country.

NTJ/BA