Syrian army soldiers have reportedly clashed with members of the Fateh al-Sham terrorist group, formerly known as al-Nusra Front, in Rif Dimashq Province as the pro-government forces advance against militants in the region.
The so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the fighting broke out in the town of Ain al-Fijah, situated in the provincial district of Wadi Barada, on Monday.
A number of Fateh al-Sham militants were killed and injured in the clashes, the report added, noting the Syrian troops managed to wrest control of several areas around Ain al-Fijah Spring.
Meanwhile, media reports said that since Saturday some 1,300 civilians have fled militant-controlled villages in Wadi Barada for government-held areas.
The displaced Syrians were transferred to the nearby towns of to Qudsaya and Dimas.
Fateh al-Sham ringleaders slain in Syria
Separately on Sunday, two Fateh al-Sham ringleaders were killed in airstrikes on the area between the towns of Bab al-Hawa and Sarmada in Syria’s northwestern Idlib Province.
The UK-based observatory quoted informed sources as saying that the air raids left Abu Omar al-Turkistani and another unnamed terrorist element dead.
The developments come as a nationwide halt to fighting has been holding in Syria since Friday.
The ceasefire, which does not apply to Daesh and Fateh al-Sham terrorist groups, came eight days after the Syrian military announced full control over Aleppo and called it a “crushing blow” to terrorists.