Led by their Tiger Forces, the Syrian Arab Army kicked off the day by overwhelming the jihadist defenses near the historical town of Qal’at al-Madiq: this would pave the way for their eventual advance into this jihadist stronghold.
The Syrian Arab Army would then bypass the jihadist defenses at Qal’at al-Madiq and impose full control over the town later this morning.
According to a military source near the front-lines, the Syrian Arab Army captured the towns of Tal Hawash, al-Kurkat, Qal’at al-Madiq, and al-Tuwanah in northwestern Hama.
The source added that the Syrian Army is now pushing to capture the key hilltop of Tal Sakher and its nearby town of al-Hobeit. Once these areas are captured, the first phase of the Syrian Army offensive will have concluded.
For the jihadist rebels of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham
, they are likely to send their remaining reinforcements to the large town of Khan Sheikhoun in southern Idlib, as this could be a future target for the Syrian Arab Army and their allies.