The official SANA news agency said on Saturday that army forces ambushed members of al-Qaeda-linked al-Nusra Front near the town of Adra, northeast of Damascus.

The militants had crossed into Syria from neighboring Jordan, SANA said, adding that government forces seized their weapons.

In Homs, Syrian troops targeted militant gatherings in Ter Maela and al-Ghantoo villages, killing at least 12 militants.

The government forces also killed a number of militants in and around the port city of Latakia and seized their arms and ammunition.

On Friday, Syrian forces stormed militant posts in Aleppo, killing scores of militants and destroying their heavy weaponry.

Syrian troops had earlier made significant gains in the strategic town of Yabroud. The army backed by the Lebanese resistance movement, Hezbollah, drove out militants from the town, which is located in the strategic region of Qalamoun.

In addition, the Syrian army has managed to regain full control of the famous medieval castle of Qal’at al-Hisn and its surrounding areas near the western city of Homs.

Since turmoil erupted in Syria three years ago, over 130,000 people have reportedly died and millions of others have been displaced.

BA/BA