The Syrian army killed more than 50 militants of the Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist group in the city of Rabis, Latakia Governorate in the north-west of the country, Syrian national TV channel citing a military source reported Saturday.

BEIRUT (Sputnik) — According to the source, most of those killed were foreign mercenaries.

The source added that some 10 units of military equipment had been also destroyed.

The Syrian army detected a detachment of insurgents prior to launching the attack. The target was attacked by Syrian Air Force aircraft and artillery.

On Friday, a group of 37 terrorists of the terrorist group was discovered and killed by the Syrian army between the city of Latakia and the Turkish border, while they were trying to approach the city.

Latakia is the largest Syrian port city, as well as the administrative center of the province of the same name. The majority of the population consists of the Alawites, Sunny Muslims minority group, who support the ruling Baath Party in Syria led by President Bashar al-Assad.

Syria has been in a state of a civil war since March 2011 with government forces fighting on multiple fronts against a so-called "moderate" opposition and numerous extremist groups, including Jabhat al-Nusra.

The al-Nusra Front is a branch of al-Qaeda operating in Syria and Lebanon. The group announced its formation in January 2012. It has been described as both one of the most aggressive and successful rebel forces in Syria.