Syrian government forces on Monday killed 60 rebels from the Free Syrian Army (FSA) in the west of the country, Al-Mayadeen TV reported.

Four Syrian troops were killed and over 20 injured in the city of Al-Qusayr, part of the Homs Governorate.

As a result of the operation the Syrian military took control of an FSA base in the city.

Since it began with demonstrations against President Bashar al-Assad’s regime in March 2011, the Syrian conflict has escalated into a full-scale civil war that has claimed up to 20,000 lives, according to estimates by various Syrian opposition groups.

The West has been pushing for Assad’s ouster, while Russia and China have said the Assad regime and the opposition are both to blame for the bloodshed.