ALEPPO

Syrian opposition groups killed 60 Syrian regime soldiers Friday and managed to capture the eastern and southern parts of two strategic villages in northern Aleppo, rebels said.

The Al-Nusra Front, backed by fighters from other opposition groups, seized control of the eastern and southern parts of Nubul and al-Zahraa, the Syrian Revolution General Commission said.

Sixty Syrian regime soldiers had been killed in the clashes, including 11 fighters from Hezbollah and an Iranian commander, the commission added.

The opposition forces also managed to capture an ammunitions depot, the commission added.

Al-Nusra, the Sham as well as the Ansaruddin fronts managed to destroy a regime convoy, which was attempting to reinforce the two villages, rebels said.

The clashes had started Thursday between Syrian opposition groups and regime forces, backed by Iranian and Lebanese militias, according to the opposition.

The two villages hold a strategic position on the road from Aleppo to Izaz. They had been besieged by the opposition for two years.

The Syrian opposition, including the Islamic Front, agreed to unite under the name Sham Front on Oct. 25. 2014. Al-Nusra Front has ties to al-Qaeda. 

The Syrian Revolution General Commission represents a unified coalition of Syrian opposition groups that aim to establish a democratic government in Syria.

Opposition forces in March 2011 began protests to topple President Bashar al-Assad, a struggle that turned into a civil war in July of that year after regime forces violently suppressed the demonstrations.