Syrian Army soldiers stand at a checkpoint in a northeastern suburb of the capital, Damascus. (File photo)
Syrian soldiers have defused a number of roadside bombs in the west of the country as the Army continues its operations against foreign-backed militants, Press TV reports.
Army units on Thursday defused five explosive devices planted on a road near the city of Homs.
Heavy fighting was reported in the capital, Damascus, as well as in the southwestern city of Dara’a.
Sixteen militants were killed in the clashes with government forces.
Meanwhile, the Syrian minister for religious endowments (Awqaf) called for million-man prayers at mosques on Friday for the restoration of security in the country.
Mohammed Abdul Sattar said Syria will prevail against the conspiracy that has been hatched by hostile states and led by Wahhabi infidels from abroad.
Syria has been experiencing a deadly unrest since March 2011. Many people, including large numbers of army and security personnel, have been killed in the prolonged turmoil.
Damascus says the chaos is being orchestrated from outside the country, and that a very large number of the militants operating in the country are foreign nationals.
MRS/HMV
