Northern Hama countryside empty of Syria's rebels for 1st time since 2012
A Syrian soldier puts a Syrian flag on the top of a tank in the town of Khan Shaykhun in the southern countryside of Idlib province, Syria, on Aug. 24, 2019. The Syrian army on Friday fully secured the entire northern countryside of the central province of Hama for the first time since 2012, the state media reported. (Photo: Ammar Safarjalani/Xinhua)
A Syrian soldier jumps onto a tank in the town of Khan Shaykhun in the southern countryside of Idlib province, Syria, on Aug. 24, 2019. The Syrian army on Friday fully secured the entire northern countryside of the central province of Hama for the first time since 2012, the state media reported. (Photo: Ammar Safarjalani/Xinhua)
Syrian soldiers are seen in the town of Khan Shaykhun in the southern countryside of Idlib province, Syria, on Aug. 24, 2019. The Syrian army on Friday fully secured the entire northern countryside of the central province of Hama for the first time since 2012, the state media reported. (Photo: Ammar Safarjalani/Xinhua)
A Turkish military observation point is seen in the town of Morek in the northern countryside of Hama province, Syria, on Aug. 24, 2019. The Syrian army on Friday fully secured the entire northern countryside of the central province of Hama for the first time since 2012, the state media reported. (Photo: Ammar Safarjalani/Xinhua)
A Syrian soldier is seen in the town of Khan Shaykhun in the southern countryside of Idlib province, Syria, on Aug. 24, 2019. The Syrian army on Friday fully secured the entire northern countryside of the central province of Hama for the first time since 2012, the state media reported. (Photo: Ammar Safarjalani/Xinhua)
A Syrian soldier flashes the victory sign in the town of Khan Shaykhun in the southern countryside of Idlib province, Syria, on Aug. 24, 2019. The Syrian army on Friday fully secured the entire northern countryside of the central province of Hama for the first time since 2012, the state media reported. (Photo: Ammar Safarjalani/Xinhua)
Syrian soldiers are seen in the town of Khan Shaykhun in the southern countryside of Idlib province, Syria, on Aug. 24, 2019. The Syrian army on Friday fully secured the entire northern countryside of the central province of Hama for the first time since 2012, the state media reported. (Photo: Ammar Safarjalani/Xinhua)