TEHRAN, March 31, YJC - Heavy clashes are underway between the Syrian army and Takfiri militants near the western city of Hama, where it has killed about 2,200 terrorists in less than a week, according to state media.
TEHRAN, Young Journalists Club (YJC) - The official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) said those killed in six days of counter-terrorism operations in the northern countryside of Hama were members the Jabhat Fateh al-Sham terror group, formerly known as al-Nusra Front.
It was also reported that the Syrian soldiers had retaken the Arza town as well as Bazam, al-Samsam and al-Shaihat Hills in the city’s suburbs.
The operations are being backed up by Russian airpower.
Due to their brutality, the Takfiris were excluded from an all-Syria ceasefire agreement, which has been in place since last December.
Amid the chaos around Hama, other militants have in recent days attacked government positions around the city, prompting clashes with army forces there in defiance of truce.
The developments come amid ongoing UN-led peace talks between the Syrian government and opposition groups in Geneva, Switzerland, aimed at ending six year of violence in the Arab state.
The foreign-backed opposition wants the ouster of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad as part of any solution to the Syria crisis.
Damascus, however, argues that it is up to the Syrian people to decide Assad’s political future, calling for the talks to focus on fighting terrorism as a priority.
Opposition: US sending contradicting messages
On Thursday, Farah al-Atassi, a member of the opposition’s High Negotiations Committee, criticized the US, a longtime supporter of anti-Damascus militants, for its U-turn from the policy of backing Assad’s removal.
"It’s unfortunate that we are hearing such contradicting messages from the U.S. administration. We would like to see a more decisive role and leadership from the United States on the Syrian file,” said the opposition member.
The US used to stiffly oppose the continued incumbency of Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad, Presstv reported.
However, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Thursday most that Assad’s fate had to be decided by the Syrian people. In similar comments, US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley also said Thursday that the priority was no longer "getting Assad out.”
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