ISIL launched a two-pronged offensive in the eastern rural areas of Hama and Homs provinces[9] on 20 March 2015, in an attempt to cut the main government supply line linking Aleppo, Khanasir, Salamiyah and Hama with each other.[3] It was also speculated the aim of the assault was to raise morale after losses to Kurdish forces in the northeast of the country, especially during the Siege of Kobanî.[10] After three days of fighting, during which ISIL stormed several military checkpoints, 20 soldiers were killed in Homs,[4] while 74 soldiers died in Hama and a number of others were missing.[7]
On 31 March, Islamic State militants killed 46–48 civilians in the village of Mabuja, in Hama province, before the Army managed to repel their attack. The subsequent fighting also left 31 soldiers and reportedly 40 militants dead. Six of the NDF soldiers were executed.[5][8] The victims were either shot dead, burned or stabbed.[12] 50 other civilians were kidnapped by ISIL from the village.[13]
On 5 April, ISIL restarted its offensive by attacking four villages in the Salamiyah District of Hama, but reportedly did not manage to gain any significant ground. Two civilians were killed due to ISIL shelling.[1] By 7 April, after two days of continues fighting, the ISIL assault was repelled.[14] Still, on 9 April, ISIL attacked the al-Tababir and Hannorah checkpoints, in the east of the al-Froqlos area of Homs province, leaving 17 soldiers dead, three of whom were beheaded.[6]