Syrian rebels seized control of Hama on Thursday, delivering a significant blow to President Bashar Assad’s regime and its Russian and Iranian allies. The insurgents, following a swift advance across northern Syria, ousted pro-government forces from the city after intense clashes.
The Syrian army announced it was redeploying to areas outside Hama to avoid urban combat and protect civilians.
Rebel sources reported that they had taken several districts in the city’s northeast and seized the central prison, freeing detainees held there. Al Jazeera broadcast images of rebels inside the city, with some meeting civilians and others driving military vehicles and mopeds.
In a video shared widely on social media, Abu Mohammed al-Julani, leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a former al-Qaeda affiliate, declared that his forces had seized Hama and called for no revenge against pro-regime civilians.
The fall of Hama follows the rebels’ capture of Aleppo, Syria’s largest city, last week. Since then, insurgents have pushed south from their northwest stronghold, reaching a critical hill just north of Hama by Tuesday and advancing toward the city’s eastern and western flanks by Wednesday.
BREAKING: The leader of HTS, Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, declares the liberation of Hama city from Assad regime forces, and calls on fighters to take no revenge against pro-regime civilians. https://t.co/3iKd7znOmJ
— Oz Katerji (@OzKaterji) December 5, 2024
Hama, which has remained under government control since the war’s start in 2011, is a vital strategic location. Its capture now allows the rebels to push toward Homs, a key central city that connects Syria’s most populous regions.
As rebel forces entered Hama, residents reported empty streets and a cut-off internet connection. The city holds historical significance, having been the site of a violent crackdown by the Assad regime during an Islamist uprising in 1982. Hama’s fall is a significant blow to the government, which has long considered the city a secure base in central Syria.
Hama is also strategically important due to its proximity to towns with significant minority populations, including Muhrada, home to many Christians, and Salamiya, where many Ismaili Muslims reside. The loss of Hama marks a dramatic shift in the civil war, potentially paving the way for further advances by the rebels.
Rebel groups led by HTS have pledged to protect Syria’s religious minorities and encourage them to abandon Assad’s regime. However, many minority communities remain wary of the insurgents, who are driven by an Islamist ideology. The return to full-scale civil war intensifies regional tensions and threatens further instability.
In Aleppo, rebel factions are working to consolidate their hold on the city, which had previously been recaptured by the Assad regime in 2016. Residents report shortages of essentials like bread and fuel, and telecom services have been cut. Rebel groups, including HTS, are seeking to integrate Aleppo into their administration under the so-called Salvation Government, which governs parts of northwestern Syria.
The rebel forces advancing on Hama also include the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army, a coalition of insurgent groups with a significant presence along the Syrian-Turkish border. While Turkey supports rebel factions, it denies direct involvement in the recent surge into Aleppo. Despite its designation of HTS as a terrorist organisation, Turkey has played a pivotal role in supporting other insurgent factions in the region.
NEW – #HTS & opposition fighters are in #Hama city center. Gunfire has stopped. #Assad’s regime has confirmed withdrawal.
With that, #Assad’s in real trouble. #Homs is next & its countryside is FAR more amenable to facilitating an opposition advance. pic.twitter.com/WHafQzSVgi
— Charles Lister (@Charles_Lister) December 5, 2024
Meanwhile, Assad’s allies, Russia and Iran, continue to play crucial roles in the conflict. Russian airstrikes on rebel-held areas have intensified in recent days, while Iran has sent additional fighters from Iraq to bolster government forces. Despite these reinforcements, the recent rebel gains in northern Syria, including the seizure of Hama, have raised questions about the future of the Assad regime.
The resurgence of rebel activity in Syria marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing conflict, with both regional and international powers engaged in a complex struggle for control. The capture of Hama is only the latest development in the rapidly shifting landscape of Syria’s civil war, which continues to have profound consequences for the country’s future.
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