Click to see the full-size map. Source: QOMHANE.SYRIA.Q.N.N/Facebook. Translation: SF
This morning, Syrian government forces, led by the Tiger Forces and the 5th Assault Corps, have advanced further against Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (formerly Jabhat al-Nusra, the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda) and its allies in the northern countryside of the Hama provincial capital.
Suheil al-Hassan, Commander of the Tiger Forces, is in Northern Hama:
#Syria #Hama #NorthernHama Video Showing Brigadier General Suheil al-Hassan #Tiger_Forces #Tigers_Men pic.twitter.com/0xjlIdTwco
— Ivan Sidorenko (@IvanSidorenko1) April 22, 2017
Government troops, backed up by artillery units and warplanes attacked militants north of the recently captured town of Taibat al-Imam and took control of the Mintar hill, Khirbet Saman and the nearby checkpoint.
The Tiger Forces and the 5th Assault Corps are advancing in the direction of the villages of Buwaidah and Masasnah.
Village of Buwaidah. Scale: 200m
Masasnah. Scale: 200m
These villages don’t have a strategic value themselves. However, they are located at the M5 Highway, linking up Damascus, Hama and Aleppo. Capturing them, government forces will expand their control over this strategic logistical line and further outflanking the important militant stronghold of Halfaya located west of Taibat al-Imam.
The map below allows to see the current advance (red arrows), and the expected operation aimed on retaking Halfata (blue arrows).
Map source: @A7_Mirza/Twitter. Additional markings: SF
In comparison with Buwaidah and Masasnah, Halfaya is a “major” town. In 2004, it had a population of 21,180. The town is currently controlled by Free Syrian Army factions loyal to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. Halfaya the last major militant stronghold in the area between Mahardeh and Taibat al-Imam.
Halfaya. Scale: 200m
The Mahardeh power station is an important site located west of Halfaya. Securing the power station and Halfaya, government forces will be able to improve the security and the humanitarian situation in the northern countryside of Hama.
Mahardeh power station
Thus, Halfaya is a current goal of the government advance in northern Hama.
If (when) government forces, led by the Tiger Forces and the 5th Assault Corps recapture Halfaya, they will likely turn their advance in the direction of Lataminah – another important militant-held town that serves as a rear base for Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and its allies.
free your country from calipHell
They should coocrdinate attack in Latakia west Idlib and on north east Idlib near Aleppo together with Kurds. Coordianted attack will left rebels in panic and they will start to loosing territories on all grounds. This way Syrian army can get more territory and make line of fire shorter and easier to defend.