Syrian army kills 125 militants in Hama

At least 125 fighters from the Islamic State (IS) and al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front were killed during a wide-scale offensive of the Syrian army in the central province of Hama on Saturday, local media reported.

A number of rocket launchers were also destroyed in the operations, which were backed by the Syrian and Russian airstrikes, the report said.

The air forces carried out intense strikes against the IS and Nusra Front in the towns of Atshan and Taman in Hama province, neighboring the Idlib province, where the Nusra militants control large swathes of territories.

A military source told Xinhua that the Russian air campaign targeted all areas where militant groups are located, particularly IS positions.

He said the airstrikes have achieved "direct results," and caused "huge losses" on the rebels.

"We are very optimistic that this coalition (Russian, Syrian) is a serious step toward eradicating terrorism from its roots," he said.

On Friday, the Syrian army recaptured Bahsa town after killing and wounding 104 militants.

The Syrian army started Wednesday military operations against rebel-held areas in Hama with support of the Russian and Syria air forces, aiming to secure the road between Hama and the central province of Homs.

Meanwhile, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based watchdog group with wide contact in Syria, reported "heavy Russian airstrikes" in Hama along with intense battles on the ground.

The fighting in northern Hama between the Syrian army backed by the Russian airstrikes and several jihadi groups is the "most violent" in that area in months, it said. Endit