Syria claimed that its counteroffensive successfully pushed back insurgents attempting to advance toward the strategic city of Hama, while opposition forces reported capturing additional Syrian soldiers and Iran-backed militants in intense clashes.
This latest flare-up in Syria's civil war follows recent gains by insurgents, including the capture of large areas in the northern city of Aleppo and towns in the southern part of Idlib province.
The conflict between President Bashar Assad's government and armed opposition forces, which seek to overthrow him, has claimed an estimated half-a-million lives over the past 13 years.
According to Syrian state media SANA, government forces, supported by Russian airpower, have entrenched themselves around Hama, Syria's fourth-largest city, after insurgents retreated 12 miles from the area.
The insurgents, however, remain a significant threat—having recently entered Aleppo, there are still fears that Hama could be the rebels' next conquest.
Insurgency Claims Key Captures
The insurgency, led by the jihadi group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham reported capturing five Iran-backed militants, including two Afghans, and three Syrian troops from the 25th Special Mission Forces Division in eastern Hama.
The authenticity of these claims could not be independently verified.
If the insurgents succeed in capturing Hama and the surrounding province, they could sever the connection between Assad's coastal strongholds in Tartous and Latakia and the rest of the country.
UN Special Envoy Warns of Growing Crisis
The fighting has displaced tens of thousands, according to Geir Pedersen, the U.N. special envoy for Syria.
"If we do not see de-escalation and a rapid move to a serious political process, involving the Syrian parties and the key international players, then I fear we will see a deepening of the crisis," Pedersen told the U.N. Security Council.
He expressed concern that Syria could face further division and destruction without a political resolution.
Regional Powers Push for De-escalation
The insurgency has received backing from Turkey, which shares concerns over security threats posed by Kurdish militant groups along its border with Syria.
Turkey has also sought to normalize relations with Syria, hoping to address these issues and facilitate the return of over three million Syrian refugees.
However, Assad has insisted that Turkish military withdrawal from northern Syria be a precondition for any normalization of ties between the two nations.
Meanwhile, Damascus continues to label the insurgents as terrorists and has vowed to suppress the opposition forces with force.
This article contains additional reporting from The Associated Press
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