Heavy clashes erupted between pro-government forces and the militant alliance led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in the village of Btaysh in the northern countryside of the provincial capital of Hama on April 14.
Members of the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and the National Defense Forces (NDF) entered Btaysh in the morning and temporarily got a full control of it. Then, the SAA and the NDF attempted to develop advance in the direction of Halfaya.
However, government forces faced a stiff resistance from HTS-led forces. Militants reportedly killed 5 pro-government fighters and captured two battle tanks: a T-90 main battle tank and a T-72 main battle tank. Pro-militant media accounts are full of these reports, but no videos or photos have been released.
HTS-led forces also attacked the SAA and the NDF in the village of Btaysh. A fighting is now ongoing in the area.