Syrian troops, Hezbollah retake Jard al-Juba in Syria’s Qalamuon

Rasa - The Syrian army and Hezbollah fighters have recaptured the Jard al-Juba region in the Qalamoun Mountains close to the border with Lebanon from Takfiri militants.

News ID: 2496

Date: 11 May 2015 - 17:33

RNA - Sources on the ground said a number of senior commanders of the al-Qaeda-affiliated al-Nusra Front were killed in the battles.

The advancement comes a day after Syrian forces killed a large number of the foreign-backed terrorists in the region.

On Sunday, at least 40 extremists were killed and their armored vehicles and weapons were seized.

Meanwhile, the Syrian and Hezbollah forces’ progress in Qalamoun’s western and eastern sides continues. They have also recaptured the al-Masirah area, where a training camp for the militants was based.

The Qalamoun region is located northeast of the Syrian capital, Damascus.

Earlier this month, Hezbollah announced a plan to clear the strategic region from foreign-backed militants.

On April 15, Syrian forces drove out militants from the towns of Assal al-Ward, Housh Arab and Jab'adin, one day after government forces retook full control of the towns of Ma’loula and al-Sarkha.

Syria has been gripped by deadly unrest since 2011. According to reports, Western powers and their regional allies - especially Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey - are supporting militants operating inside the country.

More than 220,000 people have reportedly been killed and millions displaced so far due to the turmoil in the country.

The UN also says more than four million other Syrians will be forced out of their homes in 2014 as a result of the conflict.

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