Syria: At least 44 killed in jihadist attack in northern Hama May 21

Event

Militants affiliated to Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) launched an attack against the Syrian army in Kafr Nabudah (Hama province), on Tuesday, May 21, killing 26 soldiers. 18 militants were also killed in the attack.

Similar attacks are possible in northern Syria over the near term, as the government offensive to recapture Islamic State (IS) last controlled areas continues.

Context

On May 7, the Syrian army, backed by Russian air power, launched an operation against the southern part of the province of Idlib as well as in northern Hama, the last remaining rebel strongholds in Syria. The areas are mostly controlled by the Hayat Tahrir Al-Cham terrorist organization. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), more than 150,00 people have been displaced in the northwest part of the country since April 30 as a result of the fighting.

To date, the Syrian conflict involves many parties, including the Syrian government, the Russian government, the Iranian government, the Turkish government, a US-led coalition, and numerous armed groups on the ground (including the Islamic State) with competing goals.

Advice

Due to extremely poor security conditions, Western governments generally advise against all travel to Syria, with some banning travel to the country. Professional security advice and support should be sought prior to any travel to Syria.