(Zaman Al Wasl)- Syrian rebels pressed Friday more advances northeast Hama province, taking control of two villages and strategic hills, activists and local reporter said.
Islamist fighters operating under the Army of Conquest banner took Atshan and Um Hartin villages from Syrian regime army and allied militias, as well they took control of strategic Tal Sawwan, less than 24 hours since they seized Tal Skaik and Morek town.
Rebel news feeds said more than 150 troopers were killed in the ongoing clashes.
Social media activists mocked Russian air strikes that have been failed to paralyze rebels advances.
On Thursday, Ajnad al Sham, key rebel unit in the Army of Conquest, had seized full control of Tal Skaik area, including two ammunition depots, Abu Khaled, press officer told Zaman al Wasl.
Also, fighters from the Jund al-Aqsa group, backed by other fighters, seized large parts of Morek town in Hama. The town sits north of Hama city on the north-south highway running through Syria's major cities in the mainly regime-held west.
According to Reuters, the capture comes after months of fighting between the insurgents and fighters from the National Defence Force and other militia, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
Last Tuesday, rebels seized Tal Othman military base and the nearby village of al Janabra in the western countryside of Hama, activist Mustafa Abu Arab said. The strategic hill was regime's first defense line to secure loyal villages in al Ghab plain.
More than 250,000 people have been killed in Syria since the conflict began with anti-government protests in March 2011.
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