The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) continued to advance in the northern and northwestern Hama countryside in the afternoon of May 9 under the cover of Russian and Syrian warplanes.
Pro-government sources said that the army captured and secured the towns of Shariaa, al-Jammasiyah and Huwayjat al-Sallah, as well as the hills of Hawash and Sakher.
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Earlier, the SAA entered the strategic town of Qalaat al-Madiq after reaching an agreement with the locals, who forced radical militants to withdrew.
Many opposition activists acknowledged that the defense lines in northern Hama are collapsing and held Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) responsible for the recent loses. According to the activists, the terrorist group’s fighters withdrew from most areas without even trying to stop the SAA’s advance.
The SAA will likely advance further in northern Hama in the upcoming few days. The army may also develop its military operation to cover areas in southern Idlib. Recent reports claim that locals in the town of Khan Shaykhun are already negotiating a reconciliation agreement with Damascus.
