The militants were using the western area to transfer weapons from Lebanon to Syria.

The Syrian army continued its offensive against foreign-backed militants in other areas across the country, killing dozens of them in fresh clashes.

Syrian army units managed to repel an attack against a number of villages in the Homs countryside.

The government troops also killed several militants and destroyed their vehicles and ammunition in the fighting in the western province.

During similar skirmishes in Hama, the army units killed all members of a terrorist group who were attempting to attack a military checkpoint in Morik town of the province.

Scores of militants were slain by the Syrian military in villages and towns across Aleppo while the army units carried out intensive operations against dozens of foreign-backed militants in the city of Daraa.

Government sources also say that nearly 10 civilians were injured when the militants launched mortar attacks on residential areas on the outskirts of the capital, Damascus.

The development comes a day after an unnamed Saudi source, who is close to decision-makers in the country, said that Saudi Arabia is in talks with Pakistan to provide the foreign-backed militants in Syria with anti-aircraft and anti-tank rockets.

The source further said that Jordan is set to provide facilities to store the arms before they are delivered to the militants within Syria.

Ahmad Jarba, the head of the so-called Syrian National Coalition (SNC), said last week during a visit to northern Syria that "powerful arms will be arriving soon."

Syria has been gripped by deadly violence since 2011. Over 130,000 people have reportedly been killed and millions displaced due to the unrest.

BA/BA