Backed by air support from Russian warplanes, Syrian army launched a major ground operation on Wednesday in Hama province.

Backed by air support from Russian warplanes, Syrian army launched a major ground operation on Wednesday in Hama province.

The operation would target "the edges of the villages of Latmeen, west of Morek, in preparation for heading towards Kafr Zeita", the source said.

The army was fighting a range of insurgents forces in the area, including the Al-Qaeda affiliate, Al-Nusra Front.

"The Syrian army in its latest operations is working on cutting off the southern parts of Idlib province from the northern parts of Hama province," a military source in Hama added.

Idlib province borders Hama and is held by the powerful Army of Conquest rebel alliance, which includes Al-Nusra.

The grouping has tried in recent months to advance from Idlib into Hama and seize territory that would allow it to target the neighboring regime stronghold of Latakia on the coast.

   The source in Hama province said the ground attack would also aim to secure part of a nearby highway running from Damascus through Hama and then north to Aleppo city, half of which is under control of the Syrian government.