HAMA (Zaman Alwasl)- Activists and monitoring group have reported violent clashes between regime forces backed by National Defence Forces and Hezbollah against rebels in Hama countryside.
Rebels have killed at least 10 Syrian army troops at Shalyout checkpoint as they held captive 20 militants form NDF in Helfaya town. Assad’s helicopters dropped barrel bombs suspected to include toxic gas in response, with no causalities reported, activists said.
Meanwhile, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 4 militants of NDF were killed by al-Nusra Front and other Islamic battalions around Maharda city, in an attempt to take control the city, which is inhabited by Christians.
Rebels have taken control of eastern neighborhood of Maharda city, source told Zaman Alwasl.
Rebels also have attacked Qamhana town in the northern countryside of Hama, a man was killed by bombardment by Islamic battalions around Qamhana, which is under control by regime forces, the observatory said.
After long calm, the clashes between Assad's forces and rebels have erupted again in the historic province of Hama which had witnessed bloody clashes and memorable protests at the beginning of Syrian uprising in 2011.
Last week, Assad had appointed his sincere man, one of the most savage army commanders, as Hama’s operations commander.
Assad’s Tiger, Colonel Suhail al-Hassan, is facing unexpected resistance by rebels in Hama amid fears of a new battle front weakening the tiring army, activists said.
The main mission of the newly head of Hama military operations is to confront rebels’ assaults on Alawite villages since Rebels have been intensifying shelling, sparking fears of Assad loyalists.
Two weeks ago, Rebels took control of strategic Arza and Shayha villages in Hama. Activists said controlling the villages may assist rebels to attack Hama’s military airbase, Assad's powerful stronghold.
More than 191,000 people killed and over 9million forced to flee their homes.
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