Syrian regime says soldiers killed in fighting with 'terrorists' [View All]

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Source: Reuters

Seven Syrian soldiers and police have been killed in an operation against "terrorists" in the central town of Rastan, where armed resistance has emerged after months of mostly peaceful protests, according to the state news agency.

The deaths were reported in the first official comment on a three-day government offensive to recapture the area from army defectors.

"The units responsible have inflicted big losses on the armed terrorist groups," the agency said, quoting a military spokesman. "The confrontation resulted in the killing of seven personnel, among them two officers, and the injuring of 32, including seven officers, from the army and security police."

Syria's army and security forces have remained mostly loyal to the regime of Bashar al-Assad during the six months of protests demanding his overthrow in which the United Nations says 2,700 people have been killed.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/sep/30/syrian-regime-soldiers-killed-terrorists