Syrian Government forces killed more than 60 rebels on Wednesday in an ambush near Damascus, a blow to Opposition fighters confronting a regime offensive in the capital, activists said.
The State news agency, SANA, confirmed the ambush near the Damascus suburb of Adra at dawn, saying “dozens” were killed. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 62 rebels died. It did not report any Government casualties. SANA said the rebels were members of the Al Qaeda-linked Jabhat al-Nusra or Nusra Front. It added that they included foreign fighters.
Syrian troops have been on offensive in past few months in an attempt to clear out Damascus suburbs used by Opposition fighters to threaten President Bashar Assad’s seat of power. State-run broadcaster Al-Ikhbariya TV aired footage of bloodied dead men, some in military uniforms. It said they were killed in an ambush as they were on their way to attack an army post near Damascus. The bodies were gathered in what appeared to be a desert area.
Al-Ikhbariya TV also showed a Tunisian passport of a man who was born in 1978. The picture on the passport was of a bearded man. It also showed Islamic headbands and automatic rifles that were apparently carried by the rebels. Mohammed Saeed, an activist who is based near Damascus, told The AP that 65 rebels were on their way from the eastern suburbs of the capital to the nearby area of Qalamoun. He added that the rebels were walking the 30 km trip because it is dangerous to drive in the area as it is watched by regime forces.