Clashes in strategic city of Hama intensify as Syrian military battles rebels
Rebel forces moved toward the central city of Hama after taking Aleppo, while the government sent reinforcements to the area.
Fighting near the strategic Syrian city of Hama intensified on Wednesday, with government forces regaining some ground against the rebels, according to a war monitor.
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the Islamist rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham has been trying to take the village of Al-Kareem in the al-Ghab plain, located about 60 kilometers (37 miles) northwest of Hama. Government forces as well as militants led by Russian and Iranian officers have thus far repelled the attack, according to the observatory.
Earlier, HTS failed to take Zayn al-Abidin, a mountain about 10 kilometers (6 miles) north of Hama, after a government counterattack backed by air support, while government forces retook the villages of Maar Shahour, Kafra, Hamra and Suruj northeast of the city, the observatory reported.
Syria’s official news agency, SANA, reported fierce battles with HTS and its allies north of Hama on Wednesday. Syrian and Russian airplanes are striking enemy positions, per the outlet.
