(AhlulBayt News Agency) - The Syrian Army, backed by National Defense Forces (NDF), thwarted an overnight offensive launched by the US-backed Ahrar al-Sham and Jabhat Fateh Al-Sham (formerly Al-Nusra Front) on Al-Sathiyat (Tall al-Muzayriah), located some 4 km to the southwest of As-Salamiyah city.
A military source said that all three point lost to militant groups have been fully recaptured.
In total, 8 soldiers were killed, one of them in firefights, the other seven died when IEDs planted by the militants in their checkpoint went off once they recaptured it.
Militant groups repeatedly attack Army checkpoints in the plain area stretching from the northern countryside of Homs to the sough of the government-held city of As-Salamiyah.
Less than two weeks ago, Ahrar al-Sham militants took over al-Shakarah checkpoint after a blitz attack, only to lose it a few hours later with huge reinforcement pouring from As-Salamiyah.
Presstv reports that Syria has been gripped by foreign-backed militancy since March 2011. Over the past few months, the Takfiri militants active in the Arab country have suffered major setbacks as the Syrian army has managed to liberate several areas.
According to United Nations Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura, more than 400,000 people have been killed in the conflict in Syria. The UN has stopped its official casualty count in Syria, citing its inability to verify the figures it receives from various sources.
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