Syrian Rebels Seize Control of Hama as Government Troops Withdraw
Syrian rebel forces have declared a significant victory after gaining full control of Hama, marking the second major city to fall under rebel control in just over a week. The withdrawal of government forces from Hama is seen as another critical blow to President Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
The Islamist militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) led the charge, with its leader, Abu Mohammed al-Jawlani, celebrating what he called a “victory” while urging his forces to avoid acts of revenge. HTS fighters also overran the city’s central prison, freeing hundreds of inmates amid intense clashes.
Strategic City Falls Amid Fierce Battles
Hama, a city of one million people situated about 70 miles south of Aleppo, is a critical hub in Syria’s geography. Just days earlier, the rebels had stunned Assad’s forces by capturing Aleppo after a swift offensive from their stronghold in the north-west.
Rebel commanders have now shifted their focus southward, with one leader addressing residents of Homs, warning that “your time has come.” Homs lies along the highway connecting Aleppo to the capital, Damascus, heightening concerns about the rebels’ next moves.
The fall of Hama follows heavy fighting as government troops, bolstered by Russian airstrikes and Iran-backed militias, struggled to maintain their grip on the city. Despite reinforcements, the military ultimately retreated, citing a desire to “protect civilians and avoid urban combat.”
Rebels Tighten Their Grip
By Thursday afternoon, HTS announced that Hama was fully under their control. Fighters also claimed to have seized Hama’s military airport and a key strategic hill, Jabal Zain al-Abadin, which overlooks the highway connecting Damascus and Aleppo. Videos posted online showed jubilant scenes of freed prisoners celebrating alongside rebels.
Abu Mohammed al-Jawlani, in a video message, described the takeover as an effort to “cleanse the wound Syria has endured for 40 years,” referencing the brutal 1982 crackdown by Assad’s father, Hafez al-Assad, which left tens of thousands dead.
Humanitarian Crisis Worsens
The ongoing violence has deepened Syria’s humanitarian crisis. The United Nations reports that more than 280,000 people have been displaced in northern Syria over the past eight days, many of them women and children. Civilians caught in frontline areas face grave danger, while those who fled Aleppo now endure disrupted services, including hospitals, bakeries, and utilities.
Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary-General, called for urgent action, blaming the lack of a political resolution and ineffective ceasefires for Syria’s worsening plight. “This must change,” he urged, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive political process.
Assad’s Allies Face Their Own Challenges
President Assad remains defiant, vowing to “crush” the rebels and accusing Western nations of orchestrating the unrest. However, his reliance on external allies like Russia and Iran is under strain. Both nations are preoccupied with other conflicts—Russia with its war in Ukraine, and Iran with rising tensions in the Middle East.
Meanwhile, the Iranian-backed Hezbollah group, a key ally in earlier battles, has been weakened by Israeli offensives in Lebanon and Syria, further limiting Assad’s military support.
Turkey, which backs some Syrian opposition factions, has called on Assad to pursue a political solution. However, Turkey has also capitalized on the government’s retreat, launching its own offensive against Kurdish-controlled territories near Aleppo.
Outlook Uncertain
Before this latest rebel push, Assad’s forces had reclaimed many of Syria’s key cities with help from Russia and Iran. Yet, vast areas, including the rebel-held provinces of Aleppo and Idlib, remain beyond his control.
HTS, a former al-Qaeda affiliate, dominates much of this enclave, with several allied rebel factions and Turkish forces also present. The group insists the offensive was launched in response to government aggression but has taken advantage of the distraction caused by Assad’s preoccupied allies.
The fate of Assad’s government hangs in the balance as the rebels consolidate their gains, raising questions about whether Syria’s long-standing civil war might be entering a new, decisive phase.
