On Sunday, intense clashes erupted between the Syrian troops and militants in the district of Qudssaya, located about 10 kilometers (six miles) northwest of Damascus. The Syrian army killed a number of militants many of whom were foreign nationals, Syria’s official news agency SANA reported.

Terrorist hideouts were also raided by Syrian forces in the towns of Jobar, al-Shifoniyeh, al-Rihan, Harmala, Harasta and Barzeh al-Balad.

Moreover, the Syrian troops engaged militants in Jobar area, located about two kilometers (1.2 miles) northeast of the capital. The militant commander of terrorist Hamza and al-Abbas Battalion, Abu Hamza al-Maidani, was among the gunmen slain during the heavy clashes, SANA stated.

In addition, Syrian troops stormed a terrorist hideout in the town of Zamalka, about four kilometers (2.5 miles) east of Damascus. A large amount of weapons and munitions was destroyed after the fierce gun battle.

Similar operations were carried out by the Syrian army in the towns of Daraya, al-Hejjeira and al-Dhiyabiyeh.

In Daraya, which is eight kilometers (5 miles) southwest of Damascus, Syrian troops killed Abu Mus’ab, who was the leader of the so-called Asoud al-Furqan militant group, during clashes.

The Syrian army has fully purged the town of Kimam in the strategic region of al-Qusayr near the border with Lebanon.

Unrest has gripped Syria for over two years and the Syrian government says the chaos is being orchestrated from outside the country.

The United States recently made an unfounded allegation that the Syrian government had used chemical weapons on a small scale in its fight against terrorists. Syria has strongly rejected the false claim.

Several international human rights organizations have said the militants are committing war crimes in Syria.