HTS-led Syrian and foreign militants have advanced to the outskirts of Hama, the country’s fourth-largest city, triggering intense clashes and a large wave of displacement, according to reports from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
The assault follows their rapid capture of Aleppo and has escalated international calls for de-escalation in the decade-long conflict.
The Britain-based Observatory reported shelling in parts of Hama and significant displacement in northern and western parts of the province. Images showed residents fleeing towns like Suran, carrying belongings on overcrowded vehicles.
Syrian state media confirmed reinforcements were sent to defend Hama, with the army launching counterstrikes supported by Russian airpower. Russia, a critical ally of President Bashar al-Assad, has played a decisive role in the conflict but is stretched thin due to the war in Ukraine.
Strategic and symbolic importance
Hama, a former opposition stronghold, holds strategic and symbolic importance. Losing it could threaten the regime’s Alawite base in nearby regions, said Rami Abdel Rahman of the Observatory.
Foreign militants, including terrorists from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), are pushing to consolidate control after seizing territory in northern Syria.
Humanitarian impact
The United Nations reported nearly 50,000 people displaced since the fighting began last week, with winter worsening conditions. The death toll has reached at least 602, including 104 civilians. UN Secretary-General António Guterres and other international leaders have urged an immediate halt to hostilities.
The EU, US, and Turkey have called for de-escalation, while Russia and Iran reiterated their support for Assad. Neighboring Iraq also expressed solidarity, with pro-Iran factions urging military involvement.
Civilian struggles
In Aleppo, captured days earlier by militants, civilians face food and water shortages amid reports of human rights abuses by HTS. Many residents, trapped by the violence, remain uncertain about their future.
The resurgence of violence risks plunging Syria back into the darkest days of its nearly 14-year conflict, warned humanitarian organizations, highlighting the urgent need for a political solution.
