Assad regime, opposition forces strengthen military positions around Syrian city of Hama

By Ethem Emre Ozcan, Omer Koparan, Mehmet Burak Karacaoglu, Esref Musa and Ahmet Karaahmet

ALEPPO / HAMA, Syria (AA) – Following major advances in the city of Aleppo, armed groups opposed to the Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad are engaging in clashes with regime forces some 12 kilometers (7.45 miles) from the center of the city of Hama while maintaining their positions.

They are also gathering forces in the Morik district.

After renewed clashes between regime forces and opposition groups in Syria's Idlib region began last Wednesday, attention shifted to Hama.

After they took control of all of Idlib and the Aleppo city center, opposition groups advanced toward regime-held Hama in central Syria.

Regime forces also sent armored vehicles and soldiers to the Hama city center.

Opposition groups, reinforced by fighters from other areas, are concentrating their strength in Morik along the M5 highway.

- Russia sends military reinforcements to Homs

According to information obtained by Anadolu from local sources, Russia has begun transferring military equipment and ammunition from the Tabqa district, east of the Euphrates River, to the regime-controlled Homs province.

Under the operation, eight armored personnel carriers and two helicopters have been deployed to Homs.

Russia is Syria’s chief international supporter.

- ​​​​​​​Besieged PKK/YPG terrorists seek evacuation

Meanwhile, tensions remain over PKK/YPG terrorists surrounded by opposition forces in Aleppo's Sheikh Maqsood and Ashrafieh neighborhoods.

The PKK/YPG terrorists have requested evacuation to Manbij, a request currently under consideration by opposition groups.

Opposition forces, who for the first time in eight years entered the city center of Aleppo, one of Syria’s largest cities, now control large portions of the city.

Key locations under regime control for 13 years, such as Aleppo International Airport, Aleppo Citadel, Aleppo University, the governorate building, police directorate, and intelligence and security facilities, have also changed hands for the first time during the civil war, which began in 2011.

- Operation Dawn of Freedom continues against terrorist PKK/YPG

The opposition Syrian National Army (SNA) also continues its Operation Dawn of Freedom against the terrorist group PKK/YPG.

After gaining full control of Tel Rifaat’s town center, search and clearance operations are ongoing in the district.

These operations are expected to continue due to the presence of numerous tunnels and heavily mined areas.

PKK/YPG terrorists, forced to retreat from the town center, fled to Fafin on the southern edge of Tel Rifaat.

- Russia, Assad regime target civilians in Idlib, Aleppo

According to civil defense teams, airstrikes carried out by the Syrian regime and Russia from last Wednesday to this Sunday in Idlib and Aleppo, under the pretext of targeting opposition forces, have caused significant civilian casualties.

The bombings claimed the lives of 56 civilians, including 20 children and eight women, and injured 238 others, among them 98 children and 61 women.

Clashes broke out last week between Assad regime forces and anti-regime armed groups in rural areas west of Aleppo in northern Syria, marking a re-escalation of the fighting after a period of relative calm in the over decade-old civil war.

*Writing by Muhammed Enes Calli in Istanbul