The militants targeted Bab Touma and al-Bahsa areas in Damascus, according to official SANA news agency.

A source at the Police Command told SANA reporter that five mortar shells fell in Bab Touma square and the area surrounding it, injuring 22 citizens and causing material damage to a number of cars and houses.

The source added that another shell hit Crystal Hotel in al-Bahsa area, causing material damage to the hotel's roof, with no casualties among the citizens.

The attack comes as the Syrian army has beefed up its battle against foreign-backed militants, especially around the capital and along Turkey’s borders.

After a series of losses in several Syrian provinces, foreign-backed militants shifted their focus onto Latakia, which could give them access to the Mediterranean Sea.

On March 31, Syrian army forces regained full control of the strategic Observatory 45, which had recently fallen into the hands of Takfiri militants. Many miltiants affiliated with extremist groups were reportedly killed in the army operation.

The victory for the Syrian army came two days after they managed to retake control of the towns of Ras al-Maara and Fleita, near the border with Lebanon.

The two towns were the last bastions for the foreign-backed terrorist groups operating in the strategic Qalamoun region.

Syria sank into war in 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.

SHI/SHI