Syria rebels approach Hama City, as Kurdish forces attack regime

Syrian rebels continued their thrust toward the capital of Hama province on Tuesday, seizing at least 20 towns and villages around the city, as their offensive against the Assad regime continues. 

The rebels have advanced towards Taybat al-Imam, Halfaya, Rahbat Khattab, and other towns on the outskirts of Hama City, rebel-affiliated military sources confirmed to The New Arab’s Arabic-language site, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.

Late on Monday, the opposition fighters regained control the town of Qalaat al-Madiq located to the northwest of Hama City, after clashes with the Syrian regime forces and Iran-backed military groups, Al Jazeera Arabic added.

The rebels are advancing towards the city of Hama from the western axis and northern axis, claiming that the Turkey-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) are preparing to participate in military operations against Iran and Russian-backed Syian regime forces.

Clashes also broke out late on Monday on the Al-Jubayyn, Tell Malah and Al-Jalama axis in northwestern Hama, in an attempt by regime forces to retake towns won by rebel forces on Monday afternoon.

The opposition’s military operations department confirmed that more than 50 regime forces were killed in the attacks, and five others were captured.

Its advance in Hama province comes after the rebel coalition seized a number of towns and villages in and around Aleppo on Friday, with the city itself – Syria’s second largest – falling to the opposition over the weekend.

The rebels have since extended their control in the Idlib countryside, seizing the key towns of  Maarat al-Numan, Khan Sheikhoun, and Saraqib.

A number of airports and military schools have also been seized during the offensive, with the rebels on Monday taking control over the Nayrab military airport east of Aleppo, as well as the military infantry school in the city’s northern countryside.

The number of civilian deaths since the offensive against the Assad regime began has reached 81, according to the opposition-aligned White Helmets volunteers, as a result of Syrian regime and Russian bombardment.

The offensive, dubbed “Operation Deter the Aggression,” is being carried out by HTS (Hayat Tahrir al-Sham)-headed rebel alliances in response to the Russian and Iranian-backed regime strikes targeting Syria’s northwest in recent weeks.

Kurdish-led rebels advance in eastern Syria

Syrian and regional media have highlighted the advances of Kurdish-led forces into regime-controlled areas of the eastern province of Deir az-Zour, where the group has also clashed with the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA).

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have reportedly taken control over seven villages in the contested oil-rich province., including Al-Husseiniya, Al-Salihiya, and Mazloum.

The takeover came following what Turkey-based  Syria TV reported as “violent clashes” between the Kurdish-dominated SDF and the Syrian regime and their Iranian allies.

The top diplomats of Iran, Turkey and Russia are likely to meet in the framework of the Astana process on 7 and 8 December to discuss the current offensive in Syria on the sidelines of the Doha Forum, Iranian FM Abbas Araghchi said on Monday, as cited by state media.

Araghchi, who travelled to the Turkish capital Ankara, had already discussed developments with his counterpart Hakan Fidan on Monday.