Opposition groups stand up against first joint Russian, Syrian regime offensive

Syrian armed opposition groups yesterday resisted the first joint ground offensive by Syrian regime forces with air support from Russian warplanes, destroying eight heavy weapons belonging to the Syrian regime in the Hama Governorate, sources said.

According to sources, the Syrian regime forces launched their offensive from the towns of Mork and Maan, north of Hama, advancing towards the towns of Kafr Naboudah, Kafr Zita and Al-Lataminah with Russian air cover.

The opposition groups managed to destroy four tanks and four armoured vehicles as well as kill a number of the regime’s soldiers.

The sources added that the regime forces want to control the hill tops of Al-Sayyad and Al-Hawwash which look over Idlib where opposition forces are stationed.

“The As-Sham Front, Ahrar Al-Sham and Soqour Al-Jabal opposition groups have established a joint military operations command with a view to repelling the regime’s offensive,” Ibrahim Jaber, a Free Syrian Army commander, told the Anadolu Agency.

Jaber explained that Russian air support for the regime has represented a “major disadvantage” for armed opposition groups.

Meanwhile, activists reported that thousands of families left their homes over the past few days in Hama as a result of the Russian airstrikes.

Russia began carrying out airstrikes in Syria on 30 September. The Kremlin said the airstrikes targeted Daesh sites, however the United States and its allies insist the Russian airstrikes target Western-backed opposition forces including the Free Syrian Army.