Syrian troops secure three more towns in Qalamoun

The Syrian army has made more gains in its fight against foreign-backed militants in the country, and defeated them in three towns in the strategic Qalamoun region, Press TV reports.

Syrian troops on Tuesday carried out successful operations against the militants in the towns of Assal al-Ward, Housh Arab and Jab’adin.

The citizens in Jab’adin welcomed the Syrian soldiers by chanting slogans in their support and waving national flags.

“Militants kidnapped many of the town’s residents, they only set them free if they received ransom money. They also fired mortars at us. We thank the Syrian army for restoring security,” one of the residents of Jab’adin told Press TV.

Meanwhile, reports said that the foreign-sponsored militants tried to run away after Syrian troops managed to retake full control of the towns of Ma’loula and al-Sarkha in the Qalamoun region on Monday. However, they were chased down and defeated by government forces.

Syrian army units also killed many terrorists and destroyed their hideouts in the towns of Bakha’a and al-Jibbeh in the region on Monday.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said on Sunday that the Takfiri war in his country has strongly shifted in favor of the government forces as they have made continuous gains in their battle against terrorists.

On Sunday, Syrian troops regained the control of eastern heights overlooking Rankous plain, cutting off the militants’ supply routes between the Lebanese border and the area.

Syria has been the scene of a deadly crisis since March 2011. Reports say more than 150,000 people have so far been killed and millions displaced in the foreign-backed violence.