The rebel military council of Hama announced the start of the offensive on 16 December, giving Syrian government troops in the province an ultimatum to surrender to the
Free Syrian Army within 48 hours. Within two days, the
Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and
Qassem Saadeddine, a member of the
Free Syrian Army military command, claimed that Syrian government troops had already been cleared from the towns of
Halfaya,
Kafr Nabudah,
Hayalin,
Hasraya,
al-Lataminah,
Taybat al-Imam and
Kafr Zita, leaving the rebels in control of the rural western part of Hama Province, and all areas north of Hama city. Rebels had advanced south from
Maarrat al-Nu'man and
Jisr ash-Shugour, encountering little resistance. It seemed that rebels had overrun Syrian Army lines north of Hama city within 48 hours. The rebels attacked and captured parts of the town of
Morek in Hama's countryside on 20 December. In addition, their forces surrounded the Alawite towns of
Ma'an and
al-Tleisa. A few days later, the LCC and SOHR reported that up to 300 civilians were killed by bombing from warplanes in the city of Halfaya, while queuing for bread at a bakery. The Syrian Government did agree that many women and children were killed, however they blamed rebel fighters who they say attacked the town. The Syrian Army managed to retake control of three Alawite villages by 26 December, including Ma'an, repelling the rebels who had entered them days earlier. On 29 December, six people were killed by the Syrian air force bombardment on the town of Kafr Nabudah, two of them were children. Also, one civilian was killed by the bombardment on the town of Taybat al-Imam. Assad forces from
Qamhana, attacked this same town a week later. The next day, the Syrian Army general command announced that their forces retook control of the strategic town of Morek. The Syrian Army reportedly shelled Halfaya on 31 December. ==Aftermath==