[2] Though the rebels had some initial success, reaching the outskirts of Hama, these gains were stopped and eventually reversed by Syrian government counter-attacks, which by the end of April had recaptured all of the territory lost the previous month.

On 21 March 2017, the rebel offensive code-named the "Battle of Tell Them to Work"[67] was launched when two Tahrir al-Sham suicide bombers detonated two large car bombs against government positions in the town of Suran.

[22] On 23 March, rebels captured the villages of Kawkab and Iskandariyah, stormed Maardis, and cut off the road linking Mahardah to Hama.

[75] On 24 March, six rebel factions led by Ahrar al-Sham launched a separate offensive, code-named the "Echo of the Levant", on the northwestern front of Hama, with the goal to surround and capture Karnaz.

[85] Kawkab was once again captured by the rebels for several hours,[86] before the Army retook it once again,[87][88][85] as well as Tall al Abadi hill south of Maardes.

They then started preparing to enter Khitab, which was reportedly empty but still not safe due to the large presence of rebels around the village.

More than 70 people in the area were then exposed to an unidentified chemical agent and showed symptoms of nausea, agitation, foaming, muscle spasm, and miosis (constriction of the pupil of the eye); cardiac arrest occurred in two of the victims[110] and an orthopedic doctor died.

[114] A government aircraft was reported to carry out a chlorine gas attack on Al-Habit, injuring dozens and killing two children.

[119] The town of Khan Shaykoun was reported to have been struck by an airstrike by government forces followed by massive civilian chemical poisoning.

[120][121] The release of a toxic gas, which included sarin, or a similar substance,[122] killed at least 89 people and injured more than 541, according to the opposition Idlib Health Directorate.

[126] On 5 April, Maardis was once again contested,[127] although by the afternoon the rebels managed to push back government forces and retain control of the town.

[128] Subsequently, a rebel suicide car-bomber attacked the government-held hill of Tall Abadah, 1,500 meters southeast of Maardis, reportedly immobilizing a tank.

[16][139][140] Several hours later, the rebels fired more than 40 Grad rockets towards Hama Military Airport, destroying a MIG-23 fighter jet and several large ammo depots.

[141] On 17 April, the military launched an attack on Taybat al-Imam[142] and reportedly captured a checkpoint at the eastern entrance to the town.

[145] Eventually, government troops managed to capture Taybat al-Imam[146] and pushed further west towards Halfaya, taking a checkpoint.

[147][148] However, after intense clashes that lasted several hours during the night, the military managed to push back the rebels and retain control of the town.

[156] The next day, the rebels partially recaptured Al-Massasnah in a counter-attack, before the Syrian Army regained their positions in the town the following morning, while also capturing the village of Zullaqiat, north of Halfaya.

[159] On 19 September 2017, Tahrir al-Sham, the Turkistan Islamic Party, and their allies launched a new offensive in northern Hama under the codename "Oh Servants of God, Be Steadfast".