Syrian Army Drives Terrorists Out of Key Areas in Hama Province Amid Truce

The Syrian Army and the country's National Defense Force have managed to liberate more strategic territories in Hama Province from Daesh terrorists, media reports said.

More key areas in the central province of Hama have been won back by the Syrian Army and the country's National Defense Force (NDF), in an offensive that has left dozens of Daesh (ISIS/ISIL) terrorists dead and many more wounded, according to the Iranian news agency FARS.

The moping-up operation was launched after Syrian troops retook full control over the village of Hammam, "after a violent battle with the ISIL" in the northeastern part of Hama Province, FARS quoted sources as saying.

During the operation, the Syrian forces managed to clean the heights surrounding the village, including Hammam Height, from the terrorists so as to restore more security to the Ithriya-Khanaser road.

A MiG-23 aircraft of the Syrian Air Force on a runaway at the Hama airbase near the city of Hama, Syria's Hama Province

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"Clashes are still ongoing between the Syrian Armed Forces and ISIL along the Sheikh Hillal-Ithriyah Road; however, the government forces are steadily advancing amid the Russian Air Force's non-stop bombardment in northeastern Hama," sources said.

The Syrian Army and the NDF cleared the village after Daesh attempted to recapture it late last week, when more than 30 terrorists were killed and 40 more injured in the army's offensive, according to sources.

#SYRIA Report of Russian Coordination centre for reconciliation of opposing sides in Syria (February 28, 2016) https://t.co/GfXs0iMz9G

— Минобороны России (@mod_russia) 28 февраля 2016 г.

Syria has been mired in a civil war since 2011, with forces loyal to President Bashar Assad fighting against a number of opposition factions and extremist groups, including Daesh and the Al-Nusra Front, which are prohibited in many countries, including Russia.

#SYRIA At the moment, warfare has been stopped in 34 towns and villages of different Syrian provinces.

— Минобороны России (@mod_russia) 27 февраля 2016 г.

Earlier this month, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2268, endorsing the Russia-US agreement on the cessation of hostilities in Syria, shortly before the ceasefire came into force at midnight last Saturday, Damascus time (22:00 GMT on Friday).

#SYRIA Russia suggested mechanisms for monitoring of ceasefire observation by both government troops and formations of armed opposition

— Минобороны России (@mod_russia) 27 февраля 2016 г.

The cessation of hostilities does not apply to designated terrorist organizations operating in Syria, including Daesh and the Al-Nusra Front, a group affiliated with al-Qaeda.

Adding to the Syrian Army's anti-terror effort is Russia's ongoing air campaign in Syria which was launched on September 30, when more than fifty Russian warplanes, including Su-24M, Su-25 and Su-34 jets, commenced precision airstrikes on Daesh and Al-Nusra Front targets in Syria at the behest of President Assad.

The Russian Defense Ministry said, in turn, that "Russian aircraft aren't performing strikes in those regions where a willingness to cease fire and to start negotiations were expressed.