HAMA, Syria — Violent battles erupted between opposition forces — namely the Hazm Movement and Jabhat al-Nusra — and the Syrian army, before the latter on Oct. 23 took control over the strategic town of Murak in Hama’s northern countryside, where the flags of the opposition were taken down and Syria's flag with the two green stars rose in the town’s main square.

The government forces’ control over Murak, 30 kilometers (19 miles) north of Hama, is part of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's strategy to slowly advance within geographically overlapping regions. It is an expansion of previous victories, accomplished after the recent advance in Aleppo’s countryside and control over Halfaya, a town 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) northwest of Hama. This opens the door for new clashes with opposition fighters in the north, especially since the countryside outside the cities represents one continuous line in the battles.

The relative calm experienced in Hama does not indicate that its countryside is witnessing possibly crucial battles. Upon leaving the city, one sees Syrian army tanks spread on both sides of the international highway, welcoming people with a calm demeanor. However, upon reaching Qamhana, one sees land and towns covered in black smoke and hears the sounds of clashes.

When Al-Monitor arrived in Murak, calm had prevailed over most of the area, with the exception of a few neighborhoods experiencing combing operations in anticipation of ambushes or traps left behind by the opposition fighters.