Military map of upcoming northern Homs battle

The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) is preparing to launch a big offensive in the northern countryside of the Homs Governorate, following the refusal of several militants to leave this area for northern Syria.

Led by their Tiger Forces, the Syrian Arab Army is planning to attack the Islamist pocket from several axes, as they attempt to force the militants to surrender their last positions.

Similar to the most recent battle for eastern Qalamoun, some of the militant groups in northern Homs have refused to accept the government’s terms of surrender and vowed to defend the area.

Meanwhile, in the towns of Al-Rastan and Talbiseh, the militant forces have already surrendered their heavy weapons, giving the Syrian Army a big advantage in the northern Homs pocket.

According to a military source in Damascus, the majority of the militants that refused to leave northern Homs are members of Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham.

Both Al-Rastan and Talbiseh were controlled by the Free Syrian Army (FSA) and other small rebel groups.