On Thursday morning, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and National Defense Forces (NDF) launched a surprise assault inside the Al-Ghaab Plains of the Hama Governorate in order to recapture the territory they lost to the conglomerate of Al-Qaeda factions “Jaysh Al-Fateh” (Army of Conquest) during the latter’s large-scale offensive in the months of July and August.

However, unlike their previous failed offensives in the Al-Ghaab Plains, the Syrian Armed Forces were not reliant on the Syrian Arab Air Force (SAAF) for air cover; instead, the SAA and NDF were provided protection from the Russian MI-24 Helicopter Gunships that propelled the aforementioned units past the stiff defenses of Jaysh Al-Fateh inside Al-Bahsa.

Before long, the Syrian Armed Forces found themselves in full control of Al-Bahsa after they entered and secured the southern flank of this town in the western countryside of the Al-Ghaab Plains; this battle resulted in the death of 9 SAA and NDF fighters and the destruction of very little hardware, which was a significant difference than the 33 soldiers killed-in-action (KIA) and the 10 tanks/BMPs destroyed in northern Hama on Wednesday.

In addition to their surprise offensive in the Al-Ghaab Plains, the Syrian Armed Forces launched a powerful assault in northeastern Latakia, capturing 4 out of the 5 hills in Jubb Al-Ahmar and recapturing the town of Kafr Ajouz near the strategic city of Salma.