Syrian insurgents capture four central towns as government forces reclaim some territory

BEIRUT – Syrian insurgents captured 4 new cities early Tuesday, bringing them nearer to the central metropolis of Hama, opposition activists stated, whereas authorities forces retook some territory they misplaced final week.

The seize of the cities is the newest in the push by insurgents led by the salafi jihadi Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, in addition to Turkey-backed opposition fighters. Insurgents now are about 10 kilometers (6 miles) from Hama, the nation’s fourth largest metropolis.

The newest push is a part of a large offensive by forces against Syrian President Bashar Assad that over the previous days has captured massive elements of the northern metropolis of Aleppo, Syria’s largest, in addition to cities and villages in southern elements of the northwestern Idlib province.

The insurgents’ army operations administration stated gunmen killed 50 authorities forces as they captured the central cities of Halfaya, Taybat al-Imam, Maardis and Soran. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition struggle monitor, confirmed that the cities have been taken.

The professional-government Dama Submit media outlet reported intense clashes in an across the cities, including that Syrian troops are firing artillery shells at insurgents within the space. State media reported intense airstrikes by Syrian and Russian air forces within the space.

Each the Observatory and pro-government media retailers reported that Syrian authorities forces on Tuesday captured the village of Khanaser, days after shedding it. Khanaser sits on one of many roads that result in Aleppo.

The lengthy struggle between Assad and his overseas backers and the array of armed opposition forces searching for his overthrow has killed an estimated half-million individuals over the previous 13 years.

To the east, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces stated in an announcement that they captured seven villages from pro-government fighters. Syrian state media, nevertheless, denied that the villages have been captured by the U.S.-backed SDF saying that the assault was repelled.

The villages are near a base housing U.S. troops within the space that’s near Iraq.

Additionally Tuesday, Hakan Fidan, the overseas minister of Turkey, which is a main backer of groups opposed to Assad, stated the latest fast advance by insurgents in Syria exhibits that the Syrian president should reconcile together with his personal individuals and maintain talks with the opposition.

Assad and officers in his authorities say all armed teams in opposition-held elements of Syria are terrorists and has rejected any political answer with them.

Turkey has been searching for to normalize ties with Syria to handle safety threats from teams affiliated with Kurdish militants alongside its southern border and to assist make sure the secure return of greater than 3 million Syrian refugees. Assad has insisted that Turkey’s withdrawal of its army forces from northern Syria be a situation for any normalization between the 2 international locations.