Syrian Troops Smash Rebels in Homs Outskirts

The Syrian soldiers killed and wounded a number of militants in the farms between the archeological Bel temple, Dedeman hotel, Taldo, Tal Dahab and Kesin toward al-Houla in Homs countryside, an official source said. Another army unit attacked insurgents' dens in al-Karabis and al-Khalidieh neighborhoods in Homs city and in al-Rastan, Talbisa, al-Ameriya and al-Ghajar areas, the source added. Several anti-tank missiles and explosives were seized by the Syrian soldiers in Homs countryside, the source said. Scores of antigovernment fighters were killed and wounded in al-Tawil and al-Taiba villages in Palmyra countryside, a local source said. The source added that an army unit seized rebels' weapons and ammunition in al-Dab'a farms in military operations al-Qusseir countryside. Syria was hit by a violent unrest since mid-March 2011. The Syrian government accuses foreign actors of orchestrating the conflict, by supporting the militant opposition groups with arms and money.