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The joint militant forces led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (formerly Jabhat al-Nusra, the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda) repelled a government advance in the area of Halfaya in northern Hama.
The militants were able to keep their defense positions despte a stiff pressure from pro-government forces and multiple airstrikes made by the Syrian Air Force and the Russian Aerospace Forces. The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) lost at least 1 armoured vehicle during the April 10 attack.
Meanwhile, the SAA and its allies further advanced against Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and its allies in the area of Maardes and Iskandariyah. Government forces had taken control over Maardes and Iskandariyah earlier today. Then, pro-government forces, led by the SAA’s Tiger Forces, attempted to advance in the direction of Souranl but were not able to make a significant progress. The HTS-led forces reportedly hit the SAA’s T-72 battle tank and launched a counter-attack. An intense fighting is ongoing in the area.
Pro-government sources say that government forces destroyed a battle tank, a shilka self-propelled gun, 1 armoured vehicle belonging to HTS and its allies during the clashes in the Maardes area. Up to 20 militants were killed or injured
