Syrian rebels inflicted heavy losses by army

DAMASCUS - The Syrian army inflicted heavy losses on rebels in many towns and areas in the country's central province of Homs on Wednesday, local media said.

The army targeted rebels' positions in the towns of Ghanto, Rastan, Zafarani, Kafr Laha in Homs, local reports said, adding that many of the rebel militants were killed.

Also, reports say that the army is making sweeping advancement in the Homs' neighborhood of al-Khalidieh, a hotspot and one of the main battlegrounds in Syria's 28-month crisis.

The Syrian troops launched a ruthless campaign in Homs 12 days ago, aiming at paralyzing the rebels' sway in central Syria.

The UN has reportedly said that about 2,500 people were trapped in al-Khalidieh two weeks ago.

The campaign in al-Khalidieh came just one month after the Syrian army regained the strategic city of al-Qussair in the Homs province after ferocious battles with the western-backed rebels.

The Syrian conflict is ongoing between forces loyal to the Syrian government and those seeking to oust it. The conflict began on March 15, 2011 and has killed more than 90,000 people.