As many as 16 people, including children, were killed Sunday in separate attacks carried out by alleged "armed terrorist groups" across Syria, state-run SANA news agency reported.

Two children were killed when an explosive device planted by " terrorists" went off behind a high school in eastern al-Boukamal area, said SANA, adding that their father and a brother were injured by the blast.

In the southern Daraa province, two law-enforcement members were ambushed and killed by unidentified gunmen when they were driving to work.

In the northern Idlib province, a suicide bomber driving a car blew up at a law-enforcement force's checkpoint, killing one law- enforcement member and injuring five others.

Meanwhile, an armed group attacked a family in the central Homs province, killing eight of its members, said SANA, adding that the armed forces intervened and clashed with the group, killing all of its members.

In another assault, a colonel and two soldiers were killed and another four were reported injured during a clash with an armed group in al-Rastan area near Homs. Many members of the armed group were killed during the clashes, according to SANA.

The Syrian government said more than 2,000 army and security personnel have been killed during the months-long unrest, while the United Nations put the death toll in the country at more than 5,400.