The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights

The “Islamic State” organization exploits the bad weather and advances in 8 villages in the northeastern countryside of Hama at the expense of Hayyaat Tahrir al-Sham

The northeastern countryside of Hama has witnessed the renewal of violent clashes between members of the “Islamic State” organization against Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham fighters, where the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitored the Organization carrying out a violent attack exploiting the bad weather, and the Organization was able to achieve a wide advancement by controlling 7 villages in the northeastern countryside of Hama used to be controlled by Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham, and with this control; the “Islamic State” organization has expanded its control in the countryside itself after the arrival of hundreds of the members of the “Islamic State” organization heavily armed with equipment and supplies of heavy vehicles and heavy and light weapons in the north-eastern countryside of Hama during the past 2 weeks, and sources reported that they came from the Syrian Desert that is controlled by the regime forces, and which these forces carried out wide attack on the positions of Hayyaat Tahrir al-Sham in the area immediately after their arrival, as a result, clashes have been taking place since about a week, enabled the organization to achieve successive advancement and take the control of more than 20 villages and residential communities during the period between the 21st of November 2017, to 26th of November 2017, they are: Abu Hreik, Abul Kusour, Maasaran, Atshana, Ibbin, Jib Zureiq, Suruj, Shihat, Alya, Abu Marrw, Abu Khanadiq, Al-Wastiyyah, Al-Samiriyya, Rasm Al-Skaf, Janat al-Sawarnah, Tuwal Dabaghin, Jadida, Abu Ajwa, Anbaz, Talhan and other points and positions in the area.

The attacking members of the Organization have managed to kill and capturing a large numbers of fighters of Hayyaat Tahrir al-Sham, where at least 17 fighters of Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham were killed and others were captured, while at least 10 members of the organization were killed in the same clashes, and the fate of the captives is not known yet, amid fears of being executed by the organization which tries to raise the spirits of its supporters, by emphasizing its strength through carrying out sudden attacks.