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Russia Engages in Hama Battle, Rebel Leader Julani Eyes Regime-Held Airport | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Forces loyal to head of Syrian regime Bashar al-Assad stand in the town of Halfaya in Hama countryside, after claiming to have regained control of the area, in Aleppo September 12, 2014. REUTERS/George Ourfalian


Beirut, Geneva- Armed Syrian factions, including Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, staged two separate attacks against regime-held posts east of Damascus and in Hama’s north.

Syrian regime troops regained control of posts that rebels claimed on Sunday after staging a fierce offensive in eastern Damascus.

The regime’s push was backed by Russian warplanes which engaged in a fierce air strike in the battle of Hama.

On the other hand, a Syrian rebel news agency run by Jabhat Fateh al-Sham published pictures of its leader, Abu Muhammad al-Julani, along with other leaders in the central battle room planning to take control of Hama airport.

Meanwhile, the Geneva 5 Syria peace talks launched under United Nations sponsorship amid a charged atmosphere and blatant disagreements on priorities. The Syrian regime chose to shed light solemnly on counterterrorism, pressured of military losses suffered by the front of Hama.

Head of regime delegation Bashar Jaafari said that the four-point negotiations agenda must first begin with the clause on counterterrorism.

On the other hand, Syrian-Kurdish forces backed by the United States backed fighting ISIS in Syria on Friday reached one side of the Tabqa dam, one of the top prizes in their campaign to drive the terror group from Raqqa city, local campaign officials said.

Jean-Yves Le Drian, Defense Minister of France, which is a member of the US-led coalition, said on Friday that the battle to recapture Raqqa was likely to being in the coming days.

On that note, Turkey also announced that its military mission in Syria is far from over and that there is much to be done. Turkey called on Washington and Moscow to stop supporting Kurdish militias within the “Syrian Democratic Forces.”

The SDF is an alliance of Kurdish and Arab militias supported by a US-led international coalition.