Syrian rebels are preparing to launch an attack on the town of Maan, in the northern countryside of Hama, seeking to take the regime's strategic military base after week of advances, a rebel spokesperson has revealed.
Abu Khaled, media officer for Ajnad al-Sham, a rebel group operating under the Army of Conquest alliance, said at least 1,000 fighters are readying to take Maan and a nearby army base, in an effort to defend Idleb’s southern countryside and prevent any forthcoming assaults.
Rebels pressed further into northeast Hama province this week, taking control of Maan's neighboring villages of Atshan and Tal Skaik. Rebel news feeds said more than 150 troops have been killed in the ongoing clashes.
Also, fighters from the Jund al-Aqsa rebel group, backed by allied fighters, seized large parts of the town of Morek in Hama. The town sits north of Hama city on the north-south highway, which runs through Syria's major cities in the mainly regime-held west.
Last Tuesday, rebels seized Tal Othman military base and the nearby village of Janabra in the western countryside of Hama, activist Mustafa Abu Arab said. The strategic hill was the regime's first defense line to secure loyal villages in Ghab Plain.
This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
