Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - After Syrian regime shelling and heavy clashes, government forces took control of several villages in the southern Deraa province Monday, cutting off an important weapons supply route used by opposition fighters, sources told AFP , the Syrian regime claimed.

A regime statement called the takeover of the villages a “fatal blow” for opposition groups, according to AFP.

The supply route was used by rebels to obtain weapons and fighters from the Syrian-Jordanian border, Syrian Observatory for Human Rights director Rami Abdel Rahman told reporters.

The clashes in Deraa province left 18 regime fighters and 11 opposition fighters dead, Rahman went on to tell AFP.

In recent weeks, opposition forces have managed to seize the main border crossing with Jordan as well as the historic town Busra al-Sham.