Warplanes re-escalate the bombing on the eastern countryside of Hama as part of the Russian quest to get closer to the gas and oil fields

Hama Province, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights: several shells were fired after midnight on areas in the regime-controlled Al-Mab’oujeh in the eastern countryside of Hama, causing material damages. In addition, one of the fighters of the Islamic factions was killed in clashes with the regime forces and their allied militiamen in an area in Hirbnafsah town in the southern countryside of Hama. The SOHR published yesterday that clashes broke out between the regime forces and their allied militiamen on one hand and the rebel and Islamic factions on the other in the Thermal Station area and Jadrin village in the southern countryside of Hama, as a result of an attack launched by the latter on the area.
On the other hand, the regime forces shelled this morning ISIS-controlled areas in the eastern countryside of Hama. No casualties were reported. The warplanes carried out several raids on ISIS-controlled areas in the villages of Suha, Abu-Hbaylat, Abu-Hanaya, Salba, Qulayb Al-Thawr, near Eqayrbat in the eastern countryside of Hama, amid clashes between the regime forces and their allied militiamen on one hand and ISIS on the other in Al-Qulayb and Al-Mab’oujeh areas in the eastern countryside of Hama. Clashes were accompanied by shelling by the regime forces on areas of clashes. The SOHR published 4 days ago that the eastern countryside of Hama has been witnessing since the dawn of the 6th of July intensive raids carried out by the Russian and the regime’s warplanes targeting ISIS-controlled areas there. The SOHR observed that the raids, which amounts to 90 raids at least, hit the ISIS- controlled villages of ‘Akash, Suha, Salba, Jruh Al-Naemeh, Al-Hanutah, Arshuna, Abu-Dalia, Al-Qastal and Massoud and other areas near Eqayrbat. Such targeting is still ongoing as part of the Russian quest to take control of this area in order to get closer to and take control of the areas of gas and oil fields. This also comes as part of the military operation launched by the regime forces and their allied militiamen, of Syrian and non-Syrian nationalities, with the Russian support in an attempt to advance from the points of Shahed 9 and Shahed 10 south of Al-Sheikh Hilal area to the regime-controlled areas in Al-Sha’er Gas Field, to a distance of 45 km in order to regain control of 2500 km2, over Hama and Homs Provinces, to end ISIS presence in Hama Province.

The SOHR learned previously from a number of reliable sources that the Russian forces aims at providing a coverage through their daily intensive shelling on ISIS-controlled areas in the eastern countryside of Hama in order to secure the road to the ground forces allowing them to advance into such areas. The SOHR also learned that the Russian forces are seeking, through this operation, to take control of the areas that are still controlled by ISIS which contain the gas and oil fields. The SOHR also observed that such an advancement, if achieved by the regime forces backed by the Russians, would fully secure the Salamiyah – Ithriyah – Khanaser – Aleppo road, which is the main artery nourishing the city of Aleppo and the regime-controlled areas in the Province, in addition to securing the entire Palmyra-Homs road.