Damascus, Oct 21 (IANS): At least 14 militants were killed as the Syrian Army on Friday foiled an attack by rebels in capital Damascus, a source said.

Residents here woke up to the sounds of the Syrian artillery pounding the rebels, who unleashed an attack from the rebel-held Jobar neighbourhood in Damascus toward government-controlled areas, Xinhua news agency reported.

According to the source, the rebels attacked by sneaking into a tunnel toward the districts of Zablatani, and the adjacent al-Hal Souk.

The violent offensive was foiled by the army, with soldiers engaged in battles against the rebels, while the artillery pounded the rebels' positions, rendering their offensive flat.

The source said the rebels could not make any progress.

Meanwhile, relative calm returned to eastern Damascus districts after the hours-long intensive confrontation amid sporadic artillery shelling.

Jobar is deemed as one of the most important rebel stronghold in the eastern countryside of Damascus.