This morning the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and its allies have recaptured more points from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (formerly Jabhat al-Nusra, the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda) and its allies in northern Hama, restoring control over the al-Sheha hill south of Arzah and the strategic “point 50” north of Qumhana town.
Reports appeared that the SAA and the National Defense Forces (NDF) were able to capture many fighters from the US-backed Jaish al-Izzah and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in the al-Sammam hill after recapturing it.
It looks that the SAA had finished reorganizing its forces in Hama and the SAA counter-attack on Khattab would take place soon. This will put an end to the HTS-led advance in the Hama countryside.
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Meanwhile, Jaish al-Izzah fighters, supported by al-Qaeda-linked HTS, ambushed about 20 Syrian soldiers at the Majdal front.
#Hama Battle: Jaish Al-Izza killed many pro-Regime forces in ambush on Majdal front. https://t.co/AreEElg6Kc pic.twitter.com/S2hMVbCVx1
— Qalaat Al Mudiq (@QalaatAlMudiq) March 29, 2017
According to reports from the Hezbollah media wing in Syria and the Russian Ministry of Defense, over 10.000 members of HTS and allied groups are engaged in the ongoing offensive in northern Hama. About 2000 of them were killed in clashes according to the Russian Defense Ministryl.
Militants also downed a drone belonging to the SAA over Sheyha:
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The SAA destroyed 11 tanks,15 BMPs and over 100 vehicles armed with guns since the beginning of the HTS-led attack. Russian and Syrian warplanes destroyed 12 ammo depots, 17 artillery pieces and 6 rocket launchers belonging to HTS-led forces during the last week .
