DAMASCUS, May 9 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian army advanced on Thursday in the battles against the rebels in the central province of Hama, a war monitor reported.
The army captured the Tal Hawash and Karkat areas in the Shahshabo Mountain in the northern countryside of Hama following the retreat of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
The army also entered the village of al-Madiq Castle in the al-Ghab Plains in northern Hama following the withdrawal of the HTS, umbrella group of the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front, the London-based watchdog added.
Meanwhile, Rami Abdul-Rahman, head of the Observatory, said the long-anticipated battle against the rebels in Hama countryside and Idlib, the last major rebel stronghold in Syria, has begun.
More than 300,000 civilians fled their areas as a result of the battles between the army and the al-Qaida-linked militants in northern Hama countryside, he added.
The displaced people are staying in agricultural areas in northern Hama and the nearby southern countryside of Idlib, the watchdog head noted.
The escalation between the army and the rebels in Hama has lasted eight days.
Areas in the countryside of Hama, Idlib and the western countryside of Aleppo are included in the de-escalation zones deal which was reached between Russia and Turkey in September 2018.
The deal failed to materialize as the HTS expanded in Idlib and started attacks on Syrian military positions instead of withdrawing from the designated zone which combines Idlib with Hama and Aleppo countryside.
It's unclear yet whether the ongoing military operation will focus only on Hama countryside or expand to include Idlib.
