Earlier on Tuesday, it was reported that the jihadist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which has taken control of the war-torn metropolis Aleppo in northern Syria, is advancing towards the city of Hama.
HTS and other Islamist militias are now waging the "most violent" battles with government forces since they launched their sudden offensive, according to the opposition-based conflict monitor Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) based in the UK.
"Fighting has broken out in the countryside north of Hama, where rebel forces have taken over several cities and villages in the past few hours," writes SOHR, which has a wide network of reporters in Syria.
The Syrian and Russian air forces are reportedly conducting parallel raids on the area, according to, among others, the news agency Sana.
HTS launched a surprise offensive against government forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad last week, which led to the capture of Aleppo.
Bashar al-Assad has the support of Russia, Iran, and Shia militias in the region. He remains in power despite the devastating civil war, which was triggered by the Arab Spring in 2011, having ravaged large parts of the country.
