Anti-militant Syrians protest in Raqa

File photo shows foreign-backed Syrian militants.

Syrians in the northern city of Raqqa have taken to the streets to protest against occupation of the provincial capital by foreign-backed militants.

Protesters on Monday chanted slogans against the al-Qaeda-linked insurgent group, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, and demanded the release of hundreds of detained civilians by the militants.

Demonstrators also called on the insurgents to leave the city, located in the northern province of Raqqa on Syria’s border with Turkey.

Reports say hundreds of people have been kidnapped by the militants in the city, including Italian priest, Father Paolo Dallâ„¢Oglio, who was abducted in late July when he was on his way to meet insurgent leaders to demand the release of protesters.

Meanwhile, the Syrian government forces have launched attacks against the militants in the provinces of Damascus, Hama, Aleppo, Homs, Deir ez-Zor, Idlib and Latakia, killing dozens of the militants and capturing many machine guns, sniper rifles, rocket launchers, and hand-made rockets.

The government troops have recently conducted successful clean-up operations across the country, inflicting heavy losses on the militants.

Syria has been gripped by deadly unrest since 2011. According to the United Nations, more than 100,000 people have been killed and millions of others displaced in the violence.

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Republished from: Press TV