Syrian troops recapture key town near Damascus

Iran Press TV

Thu Apr 25, 2013 9:49AM GMT

Syrian forces have recaptured a key town near the capital, Damascus, after weeks of clashes with foreign-backed militants.

According to Syrian state media, government forces captured the strategic town of Otaybah on Thursday, after five weeks of fighting. Syrian soldiers say a large number of militants were also killed.

Otaybah is said to have been an arms route for the militants.

Syrian officials say they also discovered tunnels used by the militants to transfer weapons.

The Syrian government says the chaos that has gripped the country for more than two years is being orchestrated from outside.

Syrian President Bashar a-Assad has said that if the militant groups take power in Syria, they could destabilize the entire Middle East for decades.

The United States and Qatar recently announced their readiness to boost their support for the militants operating inside Syria, in an act of foreign interference in the internal affairs of the crisis-hit country.

SZH/HSN