Assad forces recapture Syrian villages

Syrian government forces have retaken villages that were lost to insurgents near the city of Hama, a monitoring group says.

The Russia-backed Syrian army has recaptured 16 villages lost to insurgents last week near the city of Hama, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says.

Syrian government forces have been counter-attacking in the area that is of critical importance to President Bashar al-Assad.

The rebel assault has been spearheaded by Tahrir al-Sham, an alliance of jihadist groups including al Qaeda's former affiliate in the Syrian war, the Nusra Front.