Minutes ago in the Hama Governorate’s northeastern countryside, the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS) imposed full control over the strategic village of Khanasser after a violent battle with the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and National Defense Forces (NDF).

Khanassser is strategically located along the Syrian government’s main supply route to the Aleppo Governorate; it was recaptured by the Syrian Arab Army in mid-2013 after a successful offensive in northeastern Hama.

Without Khanasser, the Syrian government has no way to resupply the Aleppo Governorate.

It appears that the Syrian Armed Forces have been caught off guard by this large-scale ISIS offensive that is geared to cutoff all supply lines for the government in northern Syria.

The Syrian Arab Army’s “Tiger Forces” – led by Colonel Suheil Al-Hassan – have been tasked with the objective to recapture all of the lost points from ISIS and reopen this imperative supply route in northern Syria.