Syrian troops Sunday re-captured the strategic town of Yabroud, north of the capital Damascus, media reports said.
The Syrian Army killed a large number of militants inside Yabroud, while many others fled the town. The troops dismantled roadside bombs planted by the rebels, Xinhua reported.
The clashes over the past 24 hours were "so heavy" that fighters of the Al Qaeda-linked Nusra Front finally fled after 13 of their field commanders were killed.
A large number of rebels have fled to nearby towns of Rankous, Flaita and the border town of Ersal in Lebanon.
