Syrian Opposition Forces Capture Hama as Assad Troops Retreat

The Syrian army reports that rebel forces have entered Hama city following intense clashes, forcing its units to redeploy outside the strategic area in what marks another significant setback for Bashar al-Assad and his allies Russia and Iran.

According to Reuters, rebels announced plans to continue their advance southward toward Homs, a crucial crossroads city in Syria that connects the capital, Damascus, with the north and the coast.

“In just over a week they have managed to take full control of Syria’s second-largest city, Aleppo, and now the fourth-largest city,” said Al Jazeera’s Resul Serdar, reporting from the Turkish city of Kilis, on the border with Syria.

Assad, who leaned heavily on Russian and Iranian support during the war’s most intense years, managed to reclaim most of Syria's territory and major cities before the front lines stagnated in 2020.

However, since 2022, Russia's attention has been largely diverted to its war in Ukraine. Meanwhile, Hezbollah, Lebanon’s most powerful Iran-backed force in Syria, has faced significant losses in its ongoing conflict with Israel.

Previously, on December 3, Ukrainian Intelligence reported that the Russian military in Syria were in a state of demoralization due to the successes of the rebel forces, including the capture of Aleppo.