Syrian army stabilizes situation in al-Hama area with Aerospace Forces' support - Russian Defense Ministry
MOSCOW. March 28 (Interfax-AVN) - An operation against militants continues in the vicinity of Syria's al-Hama, and Syrian government forces have mounted a counteroffensive there, the Russian General Staff's Main Operational Directorate chief Col. Gen. Sergei Rudskoi said.
The terrorists used their numerical superiority to conduct an offensive, take over a number of populated localities near al-Hama, and come close to that city. The situation has been stabilized owing to efforts by Syrian government forces supported by the Russian Aerospace Forces, Rudskoi said at a press briefing on Tuesday.
"More than 2,100 militants, 55 armored vehicles, 22 Jihad automobiles, and over 100 heavily armed trucks have been destroyed over four days of fighting in that area," he said.
"The operation against militants continues in the al-Hama area, and the Syrian troops have mounted a counteroffensive," the general said.
A number of militant groups tried to seize al-Hama on March 21, he said.
"A group of over 10,000 militants, mostly Jabhat al-Nusra [banned in Russia] fighters and their affiliates, was created in an opposition-held area," Rudskoi said.