The Syrian authorities announced that seven members of the army and the police were killed in the "fight against terrorists" operation in the city of Rastan, where armed resistance began after months of peaceful protests against the government.
The state news agency reported the casualties in the first official comment on a three-day government offensive aimed at retaking the area from army deserters.
"(Our) troops inflicted heavy losses on armed terrorist groups," the agency quoted a military official as saying. "The conflict ended with the death of seven members of the army and the police, and 32 were wounded, including seven officers".
Deserters established rebel troops in the agricultural belt around Rastan
In six months of protests demanding the removal of Bashar al-Assad, the military has remained largely loyal to the Syrian president. 2700 people have died in the conflicts so far, according to the United Nations (UN).
But Syrian military deserters (here the most common reason for desertion refers to the unwillingness to shoot peaceful protesters) have established rebel troops in the agricultural belt around Rastan, a city of 40 inhabitants, 180 kilometers north of Damascus.
One deserter operating in the province of Idlib, northwest of Rastan, said that the deserters are fighting a guerrilla war against the well-armed army. "Rastan has been producing excellent officers for decades and among the deserters there are many people with exceptional experience. Assad is under a great illusion if he thinks that he will solve this quickly and easily," he said.
Gallery
Bonus video:
