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The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) has repelled an attack of the joint forces of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and the Free Syrian Army (FSA) on its positions in Dahrat al-Aliya west of Ma’an town in the northern Hama countryside, the Hezbollah media wing in Syria reported on Friday. According to the report, the SAA managed to kill and injure several HTS fighters.
The SAA allegedly destroyed a battle tank and an armored vehicle in the vicinity of Tal Bazam in the northern Hama countryside.
The SAA also targeted HTS positions with artillery and rocket launchers in the vicinity of Tal Bezam and Ma’an, Morek towns and in Lehaya village.
The recent attack may be a “reconnaissance by fire” by HTS. The group may prepare to launch a new offensive against the SAA in the northern Hama countryside with the aim of strengthening its influence in Idlib and gaining an additional public support after its recent clashes with Ahrar al-Sham.
Furthermore, several militant commanders in Idlib have called to attack the SAA to support ISIS in the eastern Homs countryside and the southern Raqqa countryside.
