Rebels begin a counter-attack in northwest Hama Province, Syria, May 21, 2019

Anti-Assad forces have counter-attacked in northwest Syria, challenging a Russia-regime offensive against the last major opposition area in the country.

Rebels and the Islamist bloc Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham launched an assault on Tuesday on Kafr Naboudeh in northern Hama Province. The town was seized by the pro-Assad offensive soon after it began on May 6.

The attack began with a suicide car bomb at Kafr Naboudeh’s gates. Photos testified to HTS fighters storming the town, with support from armored vehicles and anti-tank guided missiles. Elephant rockets were used for the first time in battle since 2017.

There is little news on the state of the counter-attack this morning. HTS have claimed that they captured a regime colonel in the initial assault.

A pro-Assad blog, citing a regime military source, acknowledged the attack. It claimed the anti-Assad forces were “throwing everything they have” at regime troops and militias on its eastern flank.

The Russian Center for “Reconciliation” in Syria also reported the assault, beginning at 5:35 pm local time: “The Syrian government forces are currently working on repelling mass attacks by terrorists”.

Center head Viktor Kupchishin criticized the attack for breaking a “pause” in the offensive, declared by Moscow on Sunday, and then repeated Russia’s long-declared lie that anti-Assad forces have chemical weapons.

Kupchishin announced an HTS “chemical wing…headed by Abu Basir al-Britani, who is a member of the Hurras al-Din terrorist group”.

There is video in HTS documentaries of a British fighter named Abu Basir, but no indication of any involvement with a “chemical wing”. The situation is further confused by reports that a fighter by the same name was killed by Russian forces in Latakia Province in November 2015.

Russia has previously put out statements that US, UK, French, and Belgian personnel are helping rebels and White Helmets civil defense with preparations for “false flag” chemical attacks to blame the Assad regime.

Kupchishin added more countries on Tuesday: “This new unit includes militants who came to the Syrian Arab Republic from European countries, as well as citizens of former USSR republics,”

There has not been a confirmed incident of chemical weapons use by rebels in Syria’s eight-year conflict. In contrast, UN inspectors have found the Assad regime responsible for 33 attacks with chlorine or sarin, and ISIS for six attacks with mustard gas.

Airstrikes Resume on Civilian Areas

Regime warplanes renewed bombing of civilian areas overnight after a pause of more than 24 hours.

White Helmets rescuers reported at least nine killed and “many others” injured in the main market of Ma`arat al-Nu`man just after midnight.

The town in eastern Idlib Province has been a frequent target of regime bombing and shelling, particularly since attacks escalated in mid-February.

Russia and Turkey declared a demilitarized zone for Idlib and northern Hama last September, averting an imminent Russia-regime offensive.

However, Assad forces never ceased attacks and foreshadowed the offensive with intense shelling that killed about 150 people and added to the displacement of hundreds of thousands.

Russian warplanes occasionally bombed, despite the demilitarized zone, and fully joined the assault from late April.

The UN said last week that up to 160 civilians were slain since then, with another 180,000 people displaced and at least 18 medical facilities destroyed or damaged.

An estimated 3 million people — about 20% of Syria’s remaining population — live in Idlib and northern Hama Provinces. Many of them have been displaced by pro-Assad assaults and forced transfers from other parts of the country.