Zee Media Bureau/Tarun Khanna
Damascus: Syrian forces ambushed some rebel groups at al-Ataibeh suburb near Damascus on Friday, killing over 40 rebels and injuring several others. The attack on the rebels was the part of the Syrian Army operation aiming to destroy rebel groups.
The ambush came hours after President Bashar al-Assad`s forces captured the town of Hatitat al-Turkomen, securing a key highway that links the capital with the Damascus International Airport.
It is being suspected that the rebel groups belonged to the al Qaeda-linked Nusra Front.
The killing of the rebels is also being considered as a first step toward regaining Damascus`s northern al-Qalamoun area.
A Syrian Army officer on the condition of anonymity said that there were foreign fighters among the dead.
The opposition had earlier in the day said it would meet on November 9 to decide whether to attend a proposed peace conference the United Nations is trying to convene in Geneva parallel with chemical disarmament efforts.
