Syrian opposition activists reported a number of rocket and artillery strikes on the northern Hama provincial town of Kafr Zita on May 9. No casualties have been reported thus far, however, a number of residential buildings were completely destroyed.

Opposition-held areas of the northern Hama province, most notably Kafr Zita and al-Lataminah, have been bombarded on a near-daily basis since the launch of a rebel offensive in northern Hama in March 2017. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said earlier in the month that over 500 airstrikes and barrel bombs have targeted northern Hama in recent weeks.

While the strikes in northern Hama could constitute a violation of the Russian-backed May 6 de-escalation agreement, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem said on May 9 that “There will be no presence by any international forces supervised by the United Nations. The Russian guarantor has clarified that there will be military police and observation centers.”