HAYAT TAHRIR AL-SHAM COUNTER-ATTACK IN NORTHERN HAMA ENDS IN FAILURE

The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and the National Defense Forces (NDF) have repelled a counter-attack of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (formerly Jabhat al-Nusra, the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda) and its allies in the northern part of the province of Hama.

On April 25, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and its allies attacked government forces in Masasanah and near Zilaqiat. In Masasanah, militants used a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) to break Syrian army defenses and entered the village. In Zilaqiat, HTS-led forces engaged government troops in a series of firefights. The goal of the counter-attack was to stabilize the defense line in the Zalaqiat-Masasanah-Buwaida-Morek line and to prevent further advances by government forces.

Pro-government sources also claimed that the SAA had destroyed a HTS VBIED near Masasanah. However, last night, the village remained under the HTS control.

On April 26, the SAA and the NDF, led by the Tiger Forces and the 5th Assault Corps, regroupped and regained the village of Masasanah from HTS-led forces. An intense fighting continued in Zalaqiat. Nonetheless, reports appeared that militants were retreating from the area. If confirmed, it will mean that the HTS-led counter-offensive attempts resulted in nothing.

Suheil al-Hassan, Commander of the Tiger Forces in northern Hama:

Warplanes are pounding the HTS rear in Kafr Zita:

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