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A Syrian army general says government forces have dealt heavy blows to members of the Daesh terror group and other Takfiri outfits operating in the country, forcing the extremists to flee towards the Turkish border in search of refuge.

“Our armed forces are broadening their control in the regions of Jib al-Ahmar and Salma, and all the hills around Latakia [Province], killing more than 300 terrorists. Furthermore, they destroyed several vehicles armed with machine guns near Salma and Bradon dam,” said Syrian army spokesperson Ali Muaeeb during a press briefing in the capital, Damascus, on Thursday.

He added, “The successful operations of our armed forces, and the big losses in the lines of terrorist organizations have led to the collapse of the terrorists’ morale, and their escape in large numbers towards the Turkish border.”

Muaeeb further said Syrian army troopers, backed by Russian air force and fighters from the Kurdish People Protection Units, have made headway in over 30 villages across Syria as they continue their battles against foreign-backed militants.

“Our armed forces [have] continued their military operations targeting terrorist organizations in different areas of the operation’s territories,” he said.

The foreign-sponsored conflict in Syria, which flared in March 2011, has claimed the lives of more than 250,000 people and left over one million injured, according to the United Nations.

In recent weeks, Syrian armed forces have made a series of new gains in the fight against the Takfiri militants. Reports say large numbers of Daesh terrorists are abandoning the ranks of the extremist group amid the advances of government troops.

The Russian aerial campaign against the militants in Syria, which started in late September, has contributed to the Syrian army’s counter-terror military operations in several parts of the Arab country.