Syria frees 16 villages in Hama, 'kills 2,200 terrorists

The Syrian army is pressing ahead with its fight against foreign-backed terrorists, making new advances in the western city of Hama.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the army recaptured 16 villages that fell into the hands of militants last week. The new advances come as government troops and their allied forces recaptured five towns and villages in the northern Hama countryside on Thursday. The army also retook a strategic hilltop and killed dozens of terrorists in the operation. The army is reportedly trying to seize a mountain overlooking the Dayr al-Zawr military airport. Damascus is fighting against terrorist groups that are not part of the nationwide ceasefire agreement.