The Assad family, who are Alawite Muslims, have been fighting various armed opposition groups seeking to overthrow them in the Syrian civil war since 2011, resulting in an estimated half-a-million deaths. Recently, 50 government troops were killed by gunmen in central villages and towns, leading to fierce battles in Hama province. Syrian and Russian air forces conducted intense airstrikes in the area, while aid groups warned of food shortages in parts of northern Syria. The Norwegian Refugee Council expressed concern that the escalation in violence could worsen the conflict, leading to civilian casualties and displacement of families. London-based editor David Hodari reported on the situation, with contributions from Ammar Cheikh Omar of the Associated Press and Reuters.
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