A military source told the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) on Wednesday that army units confronted an attempt by militant groups to attack Um Sharshouh village from al-Rastan and Talbiseh in Homs countryside, killing a number of militants, among them Abdel Aziz Elwan, a militant group's leader, and injuring others.

Other army units foiled militant group's infiltration attempt from al-Dar al-Kabira towards al-Dweir village, eliminating a number of militants and destroying a car loaded with weapons in al-Ghanto village.

Army units targeted militants' gatherings in Tal al-Silal, Khalij Kisin, near al-Hamoud Mosque in al-Rastan and in Burj Qaea, Kafer Laha, Taldao, al-Nasiriyeh in al-Hula area, and in Salam Gharbi and the village of Rahoum in the eastern countryside of Homs and in Manoukh, Tafha, Mahsah and al-Qaryateen in Palmyra countryside, killing and injuring a number of militants.

The army also targeted militants' gatherings in the areas of al-Rastan, Wadi al-Mira, Salam Gharbi, Slam Sharqi, Maasada, Saeed and Sultaniyeh, killing and injuring a number militants.

A military source said that all members of a militant group were killed in an ambush to the north of al-Yarmouk school in Daraa al-Balad.

The army units also foiled a militant group's infiltration attempt into a building to the north east of al-Masri roundabout, killing and injuring a number of its members.

The source added that other army units targeted militant groups in al-Arabai'n park and the area surrounding al-Quds Mosque, killing and injuring all their members.

Army units carried out operations against militant groups in the villages of Saqiet al-Kart, Arafed, Beit Awan, al-Khadra, al-Sawda and al-Forlq in Lattakia, killing 34 militants and injuring others, in addition to destroying 3 cannons, rocket launchers, 9 cars equipped with heavy machineguns and 3 cars loaded with rockets.

Other army units foiled militants' attempt to infiltrate to al-Haffeh area in the countryside through Bramseh valley, killing and injuring all of its members.

Most of the dead militants were non-Syrians.

Army units targeted militants' dens and gatherings in Idlib countryside, inflicting heavy losses upon them.

A military source told SANA that the army units stormed militants' dens in Ein al-Sawda, al-Shoghour, al-Sarmaniyeh, Qastoun, Samas, the area surrounding al-Arba'in mountain, west of Abu Dahour and Talf in Idlib countryside, killing and injuring scores of militants, in addition to destroying their weapons and ammunition.

In Idlib countryside, the army killed and injured huge numbers of militants, many of them of non-Syrian nationalities, near Sayloun village in Idlib countryside.

A military source told SANA that the mortar and a "Jahannam" were destroyed in addition to a number of vehicles loaded with heavy machineguns.

The army destroyed a militants' hideout for leaders of al-Nusra Front and Jund al-Sham near Sarmin village, killing and injuring a number of them; among the killed militants was Ibrahim Faysal, leader of a militant group.

Six foreign militants were killed and a truck loaded with rockets and machinegun-equipped vehicles were destroyed in the operation.

Meanwhile, the army units targeted militants' gatherings near al-Arba'een Mount and the areas of al-Badryeh, Qamenas, Saraqeb, Bakfaloun, Bennish and Kherbat Mardeen, killing and injuring scores of militants.

Syria has been gripped by deadly violence since March 2011. Over 160,000 people have reportedly been killed and millions displaced due to the violence fueled by the foreign-backed militants.

According to reports, the Western powers and their regional allies -- especially Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey -- are supporting the militants operating inside Syria.

HH/HH