Damascus, Aug 23 (IANS): At least 50 rebels were on Sunday killed in Syrian air-strikes in the countryside of the western port city of Latakia, media reported.

The airstrikes against the rebel positions of Latakia were the latest in a series of raging battles in the region, reported Xinhua citing SANA.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the battles took place in the towns of Katef Ghanameh, Markishliyeh and Jub Ahmar near the hilltop of Nabi Yunes in the northern countryside of Latakia.

Battles in the countryside of Latakia have been raging since the rebels in the northwestern province of Idlib captured areas adjacent to Latakia city.

Syria is witnessing an ongoing armed conflict that began in the early spring of 2011 within the context of Arab Spring protests, with nationwide protests against President Bashar al-Assad's government.

The government responded with violent crackdowns and the conflict gradually morphed from prominent protests to an armed rebellion after months of military sieges. The conflict has killed over 190,000 people and displaced millions of others over a span of almost four year.