Click to see the full-size map
The Tiger Forces, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and the National Defense Forces are now pressuring ISIS terorirsts in the northeastern Hama pocket from the the northern and southern directions.
On February 5, the Tiger Forces and the SAA liberated the vilalges of Rasm Kibar, Sawwanat Hamrah, Uwayjat Qana, Tal Shur, Malihah Kabirah, Malihah Saghirah, Rasm al-Mafkar and Abu Khanadiq in the northern part of the pocket while the SAA and the NDF liberated the villages of Maasaran and Buyad as-Saffaf in the southern part of the pocket.
Now, government forces are advancing on the ISIS-held villages of Tiwal Dabaghin and Suruj. Clashes are also ongoing in Duwadiyah.
ISIS just does not have enough manpower in the area to repel two government attacks simultaneously. Most likely, the terrorist group will concentrate its defenses in the strong points along roads in the key part of the pocket.
The ISIS-linked news agegncy Amaq already claimed that ISIS members had destroyed 5 battle tanks and 3 BMP vehicles of the SAA. But these reports can hardly be confirmed by any evidence.
Click to see the full-size map
