At least 20 Syrian soldiers have reportedly been killed and 53 sustained injuries in clashes with gunmen in the country's western city of Homs, Press TV reported.
The incident occurred in the city's Baba Amro district on Saturday, when a gun battle broke out between Syrian army forces and a number of armed men, AFP reported.
The deaths come only one day after at least 17 Syrian soldiers were killed in an attack by armed gangs on a police station in Homs.
Syrian Army checkpoints and convoys have frequently come under armed attacks in several regions across the country, while some border regions have also been the scene of unrest over the recent months.
Damascus says the armed groups are sponsored and equipped with weapons by foreign countries, who seek to foster tension in Syria.
Syrian state TV has broadcast reports showing seized weapons caches and confessions by terrorist elements, who described how they had obtained arms from foreign sources.