The armed opposition fighters were encircled in the city two days ago and have since tried to break the blockade but failed to overpower the government army resistance and were compelled to retreat to the city.

According to Syria’s SANA news agency, the troops have also destroyed several truckloads of rebels in Damascus suburbs and have seized the rebels’ arms caches.

The military set free two Italian engineers who were abducted by militants. The conflict in Syria has been raging since March last year.

According to the United Nations, 16,000 have since died in clashes.

 

RIA

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