Syrian state media say “armed terrorist groups” have killed five security personnel and wounded 17 others in an attack in southern Syria.

The state-run SANA news agency said the attack Thursday was an ambush on a military convoy in Daraa province, about 100 kilometers south of the capital, Damascus.

The uprising against President Bashar al-Assad began in Daraa in March, after authorities arrested 15 teenagers suspected of writing anti-government graffiti.

The United Nations says at least 2,700 people have been killed since then during a crackdown on dissent, including 100 children.

Syrian security forces killed four people Wednesday in the central Homs region.

Syria has blamed much of the violence on armed groups and “terrorists.”