Syrian Troops Advance in Northwest as Clashes Intensify

Syrian troops have captured the al-Bani village and the Othman hill from rebels in the country’s northwestern Hama province, the pro-government Syrian Central Military Media said. The events were later confirmed by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which added that at least 26 people had been killed. Syria’s state news agency SANA reported that Syrian troops intensified their shelling of insurgents in northern parts of Hama province and the southern parts of Idlib. Pro-government troops have continued their push into Syria’s last major rebel stronghold, raising fears that the government might eventually try to retake the entire area and its roughly 3 million people. It’s the worst violence in the region since September, when Russia and Turkey reached a ceasefire agreement that prevented a large-scale government offensive. The latest round of fighting has killed dozens and displaced tens of thousands in Idlib and nearby rebel-held areas. The Syrian Civil War is currently in its ninth year, leaving roughly 370,000 dead and almost 13 million without homes.