Syrian army, militants intensify clashes in Damascus countryside

Two strategic regions in Damascus countryside witnessed the fiercest clashes between the Syrian army and the militants in recent months. The Maliha and Khan Al-Sheikh towns in Damascus countryside were the scenes of the heaviest clashes between the Syrian army and the militants on Tuesday, FNA dispatches said. Tens of terrorists have been killed and dozens more injured in the clashes between the army units and the militants in Maliha and Khan Al-Sheikh towns yesterday. There has yet been no report on the number of casualties of the army. Last week, the Syrian army restored full security to the international Damascus highway and also took control of the Western Al-Ghouta in Damascus countryside in Southern Syria. Syria has been experiencing unrest since March 2011 with organized attacks by well-armed gangs and terrorists against both the army and civilians. Tens of thousands of people have been killed since terrorist and armed groups turned protest rallies into armed clashes. The government blames outlaws, saboteurs, and armed terrorist groups for the deaths, stressing that the unrest is being orchestrated from abroad.