Northeastern Hama offensive (2017)

The Northeastern Hama offensive (2017) is an offensive conducted by ISIL forces on areas controlled by Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in the northern Hama Governorate. The Syrian Armed Forces also launched its own offensive against HTS in the area.

The offensive
On 9 October, ISIL attacked Hayat Tahrir al-Sham in the northeastern Hama countryside near the southern administrative border of the Idlib Governorate. ISIL members that attacked HTS allegedly sneaked into northern Hama from the area east of Salamiyah where they had been besieged by the Syrian Army. An opposition activist accused Syrian government forces of opening a 13-kilometer gap for ISIL militants to enter HTS territory. ISIL captured more than a dozen villages, including Rahjan, before HTS launched a counter-attack and recaptured five villages. Over the next two weeks, fighting continued, with HTS managing to recapture 11 more villages,  including Rahjan.

Starting on 22 October, government forces conducted heavy air-strikes against HTS positions in the area and on 24 October, a ground assault was launched from the direction of Ithriya. The Syrian Army took advantage of the fighting between HTS and ISIL, quickly seizing several areas from ISIL. The ultimate aim of the government offensive was reported to be ether the rebel-held Abu al-Duhur Military Airbase in the eastern part of the Idlib Governorate or to simply push out HTS from that part of Hama's countryside into Idlib. The same day as the Army's ground offensive started, an ISIL infiltration attempt against HTS lines was repelled. As the Army offensive was developing, clashes continued between HTS and ISIL, while it was reported that fighting between the Army and ISIL had stopped as of 26 October. By 28 October, more than 350 air-strikes had been conducted and the military managed to capture between six and ten villages from both HTS and ISIL, with ISIL confined to just five villages. During the night between 27 and 28 October, elements of the 3rd and 4th Division of the Syrian Army were approaching to Rahjan.

On 30 October, heavy fighting was taking place as both the Syrian Army and ISIL were attempting to make advances against HTS, while HTS was attempting to advance against the other two. Between 31 October and 1 November, the Army seized between five and seven villages from HTS. Meanwhile, HTS reportedly seized two villages from ISIL, forcing ISIL to retreat to its two remaining villages in the area.

On 3 November, the Republican Guard and Qalamoun Shield stormed the HTS-held village of Al-Shakusiyah, eventually capturing it after hours of fighting, although they suffered heavy casualties as HTS and the FSA's Central Division used anti-tank missiles and artillery fire. The capture of the village brought the Syrian Army to the eastern outskirts of Rahjan. The next day, village of Mushayrifa has been also captured. 4th Armoured Division and Syrian Marines captured villages of all Al-Sawwan, Rasm Al-Khala and Abesan on 5th of November.