Syrian rebels have taken control of Hama, marking a significant victory in a rapid offensive that has unfolded over the past week across northern Syria, delivering a severe blow to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad along with his Russian and Iranian backers.
After years of stagnation at the front lines, the rebels have advanced swiftly, achieving the most rapid battlefield progress by either faction since the conflict against Mr. Assad escalated into civil war 13 years ago.
The capture of Hama grants the rebels dominance over a strategically vital central city that they had not been able to capture in the past.
The Syrian military announced it was repositioning forces outside Hama “to safeguard civilian lives and avoid urban combat” following what it termed fierce clashes.
The military indicated their readiness to advance southward towards Homs, an essential city linking the capital, Damascus, to northern regions and the coast.
“Your time has come,” declared a rebel operations room in an online message, urging Homs residents to join the revolution.
Rebels seen on television parading through Hama
Al Jazeera aired footage of rebels within Hama, with some interacting with civilians at a roundabout while others maneuvered through the city in military vehicles and on mopeds.
In the prior week, rebels captured Aleppo, then proceeded to push south from their stronghold in northwest Syria.
Following two days of combat around Hama’s outskirts, the conflict concluded within hours once rebels breached the city’s defenses.
The loss of Hama is likely to reverberate through the Syrian government, which is anxious about a persistent rebel advance towards the south.
The evident decline of government control in the north signifies a notable shift in the balance of power, particularly after Hezbollah, a crucial ally for Mr. Assad, incurred significant casualties in its ongoing conflict with Israel.
A resident welcomes a Syrian anti-government fighter in Hama
Throughout the most intense years of the conflict, Mr. Assad had leaned heavily on support from Russia and Iran, which helped him reclaim vast territories and major cities before front lines stabilized in 2020.
However, Russia has redirected its focus towards the war in Ukraine since 2022, and many Hezbollah leaders, who are aligned with Iran, have been killed by Israeli forces in recent months.
Abu Mohammed al-Golani, the leading insurgent commander, announced on Thursday the complete rebel control over Hama and issued a video message cautioning against involvement from Iraq’s Hashd al-Shaabi paramilitary coalition, which is also aligned with Iran.
Some Iraqi fighters had reportedly crossed into Syria early this week to support Mr. Assad, as stated by sources from both Iraq and Syria. The Hashd al-Shaabi has mobilized near the border with Syria, insisting their presence is strictly precautionary to prevent any spillover into Iraq.
“We once again urge him (Iraq’s prime minister) to keep Iraq clear of the flames of a new war linked to the events occurring in Syria,” Mr. Golani stated.
Hama is situated more than a third of the distance from Aleppo to Damascus, and its takeover complicates any swift efforts by Mr. Assad and his allies to mount a counteroffensive against recent rebel gains.
A rebel push towards Homs, located 40 km south of Hama, could potentially sever Damascus’s connection to the coastal region, a stronghold for Mr. Assad’s Alawite sect, where his Russian allies maintain a naval and airbase.
“Assad can no longer afford to lose anything else. The significant battle lies ahead in Homs. Should Homs fall, it could signal a possible regime change,” remarked Jihad Yazigi, editor of the Syria Report newsletter.
Control of Hama is also crucial for overseeing two significant towns with sizable minority communities: Muhrada, predominantly Christian, and Salamiya, home to numerous Ismaili Muslims.
Although Hama had not previously fallen into rebel hands, it has historically been a center of resistance against the Assad regime.
In 1982, Muslim Brotherhood members revolted against Mr. Assad’s father, leading to a brutal three-week military assault that resulted in over 10,000 deaths.
Mr. Golani referenced this tragic event in his statement: “The revolutionaries have begun entering Hama to heal a wound that has festered in Syria for 40 years.”
However, he clarified that the rebels’ occupation of Hama would not seek revenge for the 1982 massacre.
The most powerful rebel entity is Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), previously linked with al-Qaeda in Syria, which remains designated as a terrorist group by Turkey and the West.
Mr. Golani, the group’s leader, has vowed to protect Syria’s religious minorities and encouraged them to distance themselves from Mr. Assad, yet many still harbor fears regarding the insurgents.
In statements meant to soften his public image and reassure foreign nations, he has highlighted his past break with al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, insisting he has always opposed attacks beyond Syrian borders.
Only yesterday, Mr. Golani visited the historic citadel of Aleppo, a symbolic gesture for rebels who were expelled from the city in 2016 following months of siege and intense conflict, marking their most significant defeat in the war.
HTS and other rebel factions are working to establish their governance in Aleppo, integrating it under the administration of the so-called Salvation Government that they formed in their northwestern region.
Residents of Aleppo have reported food and fuel shortages, with telecommunications services disrupted. The U.N. food agency noted that the latest waves of conflict had displaced approximately 280,000 individuals.
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United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres emphasized the urgent need for immediate humanitarian access to all civilians in need across Syria and a return to a politically facilitated process by the UN to bring an end to the violence.
Turkey, while having distanced itself from HTS, has historically been the primary external supporter of other rebel groups allied with it, and its role will be crucial for the future of any expanded insurgent territory in Syria.
The Turkish government has denied any involvement in the recent rebels’ rapid advance into Aleppo.
Any sustained rebel gains in northern Syria could facilitate the return of numerous Syrian refugees currently residing in Turkey, which is a major objective for the Turkish government.
