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Syrian army foils attack on Daraa city, killing 100 rebels

Xinhua, August 11, 2015 Adjust font size:

The Syrian army on Tuesday foiled a wide-scale attack on a southern city, killing over 100 rebels, the state news agency SANA.

The Syrian armed forces confronted an infiltration attempt by the rebels from several directions into the city of Daraa, killing and injuring hundreds of them and destroying their weaponry.

The infiltration attempt was not the first in Daraa.

In June, a coalition of 51 rebel and jihadi groups declared the start of a major offensive to drive government forces out of Daraa.

The offensive, dubbed "the Storm of the South," aims to take control of the entire city of Daraa and its vicinity, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The jihadi groups, mainly the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front, have been eyeing the full capture of Daraa, due to its location, less than 100 km from the capital Damascus and its proximity to Jordanian borders, where militants are reportedly receiving supplies. Endit