Syrian army regains two more towns from rebels

Syrian troops Friday regained two towns in the central province of Homs after intense battles with the armed rebels.

The troops recaptured the towns of Muhin and Hawariyen in the eastern countryside of Homs city, Xinhua reported citing the state-run SANA news agency. It added that the armed groups there had suffered grave losses.

Meanwhile, the Lebanese al-Manar TV said the army also recaptured the weapon depots in Muhin, a day after recapturing the Big Muhin mountain, which is only three km south of the town and two km west of 32 arms depots.

The rebels tried to move out the weapons before losing the town but the army's shelling thwarted their attempts.

Friday's progress is part of the recent victories the Syrian army and its affiliated militias, including the Lebanese Hezbollah fighters, have made on many fronts in their battles with the armed groups.

Earlier Friday, Syrian troops wrested back control of a town in the southeast of Aleppo province.

The Syrian troops recaptured the town of Tal Hasel after eliminating the "terrorist" groups, Xinhua reported citing state-run SANA news agency.

The town is located near Sfaira, which the Syrian army had recaptured last week in a large-scale offensive it launched in the rebel-held areas in Aleppo and the countryside of Damascus.

The Syrian troops have been making considerable advances in the southern countryside of Aleppo and the southeastern outskirts of Damascus.

A day earlier, some activist groups said an army air strike killed a rebel commander in Aleppo.

While the army has regained momentum in Aleppo, the rebels reportedly targeted the al-Nairab military airbase with Grad missiles, destroying a number of gunships, according to activist reports.

After the recent advance of the Syrian army, the rebels, mainly the Tawhid Brigade, called for emergency mobilisation of rebel fighters to confront the advancing troops.