(Zaman Al Wasl)- At least 105 army forces, including 10 officers, killed by the Islamic State in Hama province in a week of the heaviest fighting and shelling for months, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and activists said.
The clashes were accompanied by heavy bombardment, with dozens of shells and rockets being fired, said the Britain-based Observatory.
The battle is around the village of Maan, 23 km (15 miles) north of Hama in western Syria, near the location of a rebel assault and government counter-offensive this spring.
The Observatory said the fighting arose from an attempt by pro-government forces to advance north from Maan into rebel territory.
Activists said 12 militants from al-Quds militia were killed on Thursday in the clashes and 5 more militants from the Popular Army have been lost in Athariya battlefield.
A military media unit run by Hezbollah said it was rebels who tried to attack, but were thwarted by the regime army.
Hardline Islamist groups, including the Tahrir al-Sham alliance which contains al Qaeda's former Syrian affiliate, are present in the area.
The war front in northern Hama province has mostly been quiet since a de-escalation process, brokered by the government's ally Russia and rebel backer Turkey took effect in early May.
The regime army's main focus since May has been its campaign in the east of the country against Islamic State.
The Islamic State militants attacked regime forces and their allies on Wednesday around the mountainous Jabal al-Shomariya area in Homs province, and the regime side was carrying out airstrikes.
Clashes between ISIS and regime forces have also erupted Athariya-Rusafa highway near Salamiya town In the eastern countryside of Hama.
Islamic State has been losing ground to regime forces further east, close to its stronghold of Deir al-Zor province and al-Sukhna, the last town it holds in Homs province.
Pro-regime news feeds said about 500 troops have been killed in the last three months in eastern Hama.
Another heavy death toll in regime ranks took place in the Syrian desert as 172 troops have been killed by ISIS since last week, pro-regime news outlets said amid mounting anger among pro-regime areas.
The Syrian Soldier, pro-regime Facebook page with wide network of sources, said more than 700 soldiers have been lost and killed since May in the Syrian desert, also known as al-Badiya, not just by ISIS or rebels but due to lack of water and food.
Pro-regime activists blamed top army officers, saying those who are standing behind the missing of army soldiers. They have been deployed in desert without food supplies or telecommunication devices.
Syrian regime has depended on its allied militias mostly from Latakia and Tartus province in Badiya battles where most of them have no war experience.
Retired colonel told Zaman al-Wasl the summer heat and lack of medicine have also increased the death toll of regime army.
Last week, U.S.-backed Jaish Osoud al-Sharqiya killed 15 regime troops in al-Badiya, when its artillery and Grad rockets pounded an army stronghold in Um Remam area, spokesman Said Seif said. (With Agencies)
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