As of the evening of 3rd December, fighting continued to rage along the frontlines of northern and eastern Hama province. Opposition forces captured several new towns along the M5 highway and pushed further east towards Ithriya. At least 14 new towns and villages have been captured from pro-regime forces so far, with opposition fighters closing in on crucial military assets in the city of Hama itself. Amid the continued advances by the opposition, pro-regime forces have been rapidly shifting personnel and supplies towards frontlines in Hama, which would be a vital loss for the regime. Losing the city would effectively cut off major routes between the northern Syrian coast of Lakatia and the M5 highway, cutting regime territory in half and presenting an enormous strategic challenge to the Assad regime.
After days of concentrating fire on civilian areas deeper into opposition-held areas of Idlib and Aleppo, Russian and regime warplanes have now started bombarding front-line military positions and recently-captured towns in Hama province as well, including Kafr Zeita, Murak, Halfaya, Khatab and Suran.
To the east, clashes broke out between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and pro-regime fighters around the regime-held “Seven Villages,” an area on the eastern bank of the Euphrates River in Deir Ezzor. After militia members targeted the US-led International Coalition’s nearby Conoco Field base, the SDF moved in and intense fighting followed. Clashes were ongoing as of late 3rd December.
Northern Hama Developments
Intense battles continue to rage along frontlines in northern Hama province, after the opposition offensive seized new territory to the south and east, reaching the entrance to the provincial capital of Hama itself. By late 3rd December, oppositionforces captured around 14 towns and villages. Opposition forces have made particularly significant gains in north-east Hama, progressing rapidly in the direction of Ithriya.
Following an intensified campaign of airstrikes on civilian areas in northern Idlib and Aleppo, Russian and Syrian regime jets have shifted their focus to front-line military positions in Hama. Air raids targeted recently captured towns including Kafr Zeita, Murak, Halfaya, Khatab and Suran.
Deir Ezzor Clashes
Separate from the fast-moving developments in northern Hama, clashes erupted between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and a pro-regime militia. Fighting has centered on a string of regime-controlled towns in Deir Ezzor province known as the “Seven Villages,” an enclave of regime control along the eastern bank of the Euphrates River.
Clashes began early on 3rd December, when members of the pro-regime militia targeted the Conoco Field base with a projectile, prompting an airstrike by Coalition Forces that killed seven militia fighters. The SDF mobilized towards the seven villages and engaging in fierce clashes with pro-regime fighters, killing an additional fighter and losing three soldiers among the SDF ranks. The force then withdrew as pro-regime reinforcements arrived from the western bank of the river, although clashes resumed later in the day and were ongoing into the evening.
