14 killed in militant attacks in Syria

Damascus (IANS) Armed militant groups infiltrated a town in Syria's central province of Hama, killing 14 civilians, including women and children, media reported Wednesday.

The group sneaked into the town of Khatab in the northwestern countryside of the Hama at dawn Wednesday, and committed a mass killing against the civilians there, Xinhua reported citing the official SANA news agency. It gave no further details.

Syrian troops have recently posted sweeping victories in the central Syria. However, some rebel groups have managed to permeate some areas every now and then.

Meanwhile, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said nine women were among the civilians killed by the militants.