Syrian insurgents capture four central towns as government forces reclaim some territory
Syrian opposition activists say insurgents have captured four new towns, bringing them closer to the central city of Hama
BEIRUT (AP) — Syrian insurgents captured four new towns early Tuesday, bringing them closer to the central city of Hama, opposition activists said, while government forces retook some territory they lost last week.
The new push came as Turkey's president — whose country is a main backer of insurgent groups — says that Syria's government must engage “in a genuine political process” to prevent the situation from deteriorating further.
The capture of the towns is the latest in the push by insurgents led by the salafi jihadi Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, as well as Turkey-backed opposition fighters. Insurgents now are about 10 kilometers (6 miles) from Hama, the country’s fourth-largest city.
The latest push is part of a wide offensive by forces opposed to Syrian President Bashar Assad that over the past days has captured large parts of the northern city of Aleppo, Syria’s largest, as well as towns and villages in southern parts of the northwestern Idlib province.
