Syrian Militants Seize Four Central Towns While Government Forces Regain Some Ground

On Tuesday, Syrian militants, primarily from Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham and Turkey-backed opposition forces, captured four towns—Halfaya, Taybat Al-Imam, Maardis, and Soran—bringing them within 10 kilometers of Hama, Syria’s fourth largest city, Arab News reported yesterday. This offensive follows significant territorial gains in Aleppo and Idlib province.

The militant operations reportedly resulted in the deaths of 50 government soldiers. In response, Syrian government forces have engaged in intense artillery shelling and airstrikes in the region. Notably, Syrian troops retook the village of Khanaser, which is crucial for access to Aleppo.

Meanwhile, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces claimed to have seized seven villages from pro-government forces, although this was disputed by Syrian state media. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan emphasized the need for President Bashar Assad to engage in dialogue with the opposition to stabilize the situation. The ongoing conflict has resulted in an estimated half a million deaths over 13 years.