Date: Jul 31, 2019 Source: The Daily Star Syrian regime forces recover area in northwest Reuters BEIRUT: Syrian regime forces have recovered two villages from rebel fighters in northwestern Syria after days of bombardment, sources on both sides said Monday. Rebel fighters captured the villages of Al-Jabin and Tal Meleh in northern Hama province in early June during a counterattack against government forces that have been waging a Russian-backed offensive in the area since late April. A rebel commander in the area said opposition fighters had withdrawn from Al-Jabin after heavy bombardment. The Syrian state news agency SANA said the army had established full control over both villages and was continuing operations against “terrorist organizations” in the northern Hama and southern Idlib areas. The pro-Damascus Al-Watan newspaper earlier reported the Syrian army had advanced in the area as Syrian and Russian warplanes targeted militant positions and after several days of preparatory fire.