Syrian rebels, led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), have taken full control of the city of Hama after government troops withdrew. This follows the fall of Aleppo, which rebels captured just days earlier. HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Jawlani declared victory in Hama, promising no revenge for past atrocities committed by Assad’s regime.
The fighting saw HTS forces take over Hama’s central prison, freeing inmates during intense clashes, while the military redeployed its troops to avoid urban combat. Hama, home to over a million people, is strategically important, located 110 km south of Aleppo.
As the rebels advance, there is growing concern over the future of President Bashar al-Assad’s government. His reliance on Russia and Iran to maintain control may be strained due to their own geopolitical distractions. Over 500,000 people have died since the war began in 2011, and the fighting continues to displace thousands more.
The UN has warned that the escalating violence is making life even harder for civilians, with over 280,000 people forced to flee the conflict in the northwest.
