DAMASCUS, 9 December 2005 — Eight militants were killed in a clash between Syrian security forces and an Islamic group in a farm in central Syria yesterday, the state news agency SANA reported.
“After an exchange of fire with members of the group for about an hour, a big explosion was heard inside the farm... Three of the group members blew themselves up with explosive belts and five others were killed in the clash,” SANA said.
The group was hiding in a farm in the town of Maaret Al-Nouman near the city of Edleb. It said various weapons were found at the farm including explosive belts.
Syria said Wednesday its security forces found an explosives factory in the northern city of Aleppo a few days after a clash in which two militants were wounded and later died after confessing that they planned militant acts.
The two militants said before they died that they planned contacts with factions active in neighboring countries.
Security forces have clashed with militants several times this year, usually in raids to arrest them. Two more militants were killed and another wounded in a similar clash in Aleppo last month.
Authorities say they have tightened the noose on suspected Arab Islamists, arresting dozens and extraditing scores to their home countries.
