Syrian regime soldiers, backed by fighters from allied popular defense groups, have managed to wrest control over six villages in the country’s western coastal province of Latakia following heavy clashes with Daesh fighters.

On Friday, the Syrian forces regained control of the villages of Ayn Qantarah, Tal Rasha, Tal al-Awizrat, Dhaher Abu As’ad, Nahshaba and Ruwaisah Kataf, which lie on the northern outskirts of the provincial capital city of Latakia and are nearly 350 kilometers (217 miles) northwest of the capital Damascus, Syria’s official SANA news agency reported.

The report added that more than a dozen militants were killed and considerable amounts of munitions belonging to them were destroyed during the fierce battles.

Elsewhere in the southern Ramousah neighborhood of Aleppo, located some 355 kilometers (220 miles) north of Damascus, government troopers and their allies secured a road into the government-held side of the strategic city.

A reporter for the state-run Al-Ikhbariya television news network said the road would be secure for civilian use within the next few hours.

The development came a day after Syrian soldiers marched into Ramouseh district, and advanced towards other militant-held areas in the eastern part of Aleppo.

Editor's note: This article has been edited from the original.