Explosions rock Damascus suburb

Massive explosions in Jobar leave this small Damascus suburb clouded in gray smoke and debris.

Video from the Syrian army shows an advance on rebel fighters.

The army says it's killed a number of militants fighting against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government.

(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SYRIAN OFFICER, SAYING:

"We, the soldiers of the Syrian Arab Army in Jobar, are determined to continue our national duty in ending armed terrorist groups and cleaning the territories of the Syrian Arab Republic from those terrorist mercenaries."

But the Syrian Civil war, which has now entered its fourth year, shows no sign of slowing down.

The Syrian government now faces new threats, including Islamic State militants, who are attempting to form a "caliphate" across northern Iraq and Syria.