The Syrian army killed more than 70 fighters from the Al-Qaeda-linked Nusra Front and destroyed five armoured vehicles in operations in central Hama province Thursday, state-run news agency Sana reported.
The Nusra fighters died in clashes with the army after they entered the villages of Maan, Tayyebet al-Esm, al-Shaata, Karah and the area around al-Rai mountain to the north of the city of Hama, Sana said, citing an unnamed military source.
The Nusra Front, the Islamic State jihadist group and other designated "terrorist" organisations are excluded from a United Nations brokered partial ceasefire which began on 27 February.
