Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham (formerly Jabhat al-Nusra, the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda) and its moderate counterparts seized more villages from government forces in northern Hama.
The Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS)-led forces seized Arzeh, Kawkab and Eskandariah after breaking defenses of the National Defense Forces (NDF) north of Hama.
The militants also attacked an important government defense site of Qamhanah.
In the current situation, HTS and its allies have two options:
- To develop the advance further in the southern and southwestern directions in an attempt to outflank the Hama Airbase and Hama;
- To advance on the government held towns of Kubbariyah, Maan and Qarah.
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