FILE IMAGE: Sputnik/ Mikhail Voskresenskiy
The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and the National Defense Forces (NDF) have opened a new front against ISIS terrorists in the province of Hama, according to pro-government sources.
The SAA and the NDF have reportedly advanced against ISIS from the government-held town of Ithriyah towards the province of Raqqah aiming to link up with the government-held area southwest of Tabqah. So far, government forces have reportedly captured Talet Abo Zein and the nearby points.
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If government troops advancing from Ithriyah link up with their allies south of Tabqah, they will secure the vital Ithriyah-Resafa road and to strengthen positions of the SAA in the western part of Raqqah province.
At the same time, this will allow to clear the area east of Khansir from the vestiges of ISIS forces in order to boost security of the strategic Ithriyah-Khanasir-Aleppo road.
