Syrian army reinforcements arrive to combat rebel offensive in Hama

The Syrian army received reinforcements Thursday to confront a widescale offensive by rebels in the central province of Hama, a military source told Xinhua.

The source pointed out that clashes are currently underway in the village of Ma'ardes, only 5 km from Hama, amid reports that the rebels have actually taken control of it.

Meanwhile, Syria's state news agency SANA said that the Syrian airforce carried out several airstrikes against rebel posts in Hama.

It added that the airstrikes targeted the cities of Mork and Tibet al-Imamand, leading to the deaths of 10 rebels.

This development comes only a day after the Syrian army killed over 50 rebels and wounded 70 others, as part of the ongoing military campaign to repel rebels out of Hama.

Hama's northern countryside has once again come under the spotlight after rebels repeatedly attacked government posts there.

The primary reason behind repeated rebel attacks is to keep the army busy on several fronts, which will reduce the army's pressure against rebels in other parts of Syria.

Recent reports indicate that rebels in the northern province of Aleppo are folding under pressure from the army, which has reportedly closed all entryways into the rebel-held areas in the eastern part of Aleppo. Endit