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Syrian troops kill 54 rebels in east of Damascus

Xinhua, February 5, 2015 Adjust font size:

The Syrian troops on Wednesday targeted rebel positions in the eastern countryside of the capital Damascus, killing 54 of them, according to Syria's national TV.

The Syrian government forces targeted the positions of the so-called Islam Army in the hotbed suburb of Douma, said the TV.

Earlier in the day, the oppositional Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported violent clashes in eastern Damascus coupled with airstrikes on the rebel-held areas there.

Wednesday's battles came a day after the head of the Islam Army, Zahran Alloush, threatened to target security and military positions inside the capital in retaliation to the government forces' escalated offensive.

However, the offensive on Wednesday seemed to have thwarted Alloush's plans, as no security breaches were recorded attacked by his troops on Wednesday.

Also on Wednesday, local press said the Syrian troops advanced further inside Jobar, another rebel stronghold east of Damascus. Endit