Fifteen Hezbollah fighters killed in clashes in Damascus

Syrian opposition forces reported that at least fifteen Hezbollah fighters in the capital's Ghouta district were killed Saturday, according to an Al-Arabiya report.

Six of the fighters have been transported to Lebanon for medical treatment.

Hundreds of Hezbollah militants have previously been killed in Syria since the start of the conflict in the war-torn country.

Hezbollah has been sending soldiers to Syria, citing its need to "protect sacred Shiite religious sites against potential attacks by Sunni rebels."

Hezbollah has previously assisted government forces in May 2013 in their siege of the Lebanese border town, al-Qusayr from rebel forces after two weeks of fighting.

Iran, considered a major ally of both Hezbollah and the Syrian government regime, is also believed to have military presence in Syria, according to Al-Arabiya's sources.

Sunni militant groups from abroad have also sent fighters to the battlegrounds in Syria.