Intense clashes between Syrian troops and rebels broke out in Syria's southern province of Daraa on Wednesday, resulting dozens of casualties, activists said.

The clashes in the southern towns of Sanamein and Ghabagheb in Daraa killed 26 civilians as well as 16 rebels and nine soldiers, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

It said the Syrian troops stormed several neighborhoods in the Sanamein area earlier in the day, triggering violent battles in that rebellious part of the restive province.

Syria's state-media has yet to comment on the activists' report but official news agency SANA said the Syrian troops clashed with a "terrorist" group in central Daraa and killed many of them.

The troops also battled another armed group in the town of Izraa in Daraa and repelled militants attack against a police station in the Ghabagheb area, SANA said.

Daraa Province, the birthplace of Syria's two-year-old conflict, recently returned under spotlight after the rebels made attempts to take over several parts of it.

(Xinhua News Agency April 10, 2013)