Media: Fierce clashes erupt between Syrian forces, militants near Khattab, Hama
Syrian military units are reinforcing the positions along the northern frontier of Hama province as part of preparation for a counteroffensive against opposition forces.
According to the report, fierce clashes are taking place between Syrian troops and militants near Khattab settlement, located in northwestern Hama, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.
The Syrian military quickly deployed reinforcements to the northwest and conducted airstrikes in an effort to push back insurgents who had taken control of Aleppo, the country's largest city.
Iran, a key ally of Syrian President Bashar Assad, pledged its support to help the government combat the unexpected offensive, though the specifics of Tehran's assistance remain unclear.
The insurgents, led by the jihadist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, launched a dual attack on Aleppo and surrounding areas of Idlib before advancing towards Hama province. Syrian forces established a “strong defensive line” in northern Hama in an attempt to halt the insurgents’ progress, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based opposition monitoring group. Meanwhile, airstrikes on the cities of Idlib and Aleppo resulted in at least 25 deaths, according to the Syrian Civil Defense, which operates in opposition-controlled regions.
By Naila Huseynova