In a stunning victory for anti-government forces, the strategically vital city of Hama in northern Syria fell on Thursday. This meaningful advance follows a rapid push across the region, delivering a major blow to President Bashar al-Assad and his Russian and Iranian allies.
The Syrian army announced its withdrawal from Hama, stating the move was intended “to preserve civilian lives and prevent urban combat after intense clashes.”
Abu Mohammed al-Golani, the leader of hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the group spearheading the offensive, declared, “we are preparing to keep marching south towards Homs,” syria’s crucial crossroads city linking the capital damascus to the north and the coast.
An HTS spokesman issued an online call to Hama residents, urging them to “rise up in revolution,” proclaiming, “Your time has come.”
Al Jazeera television broadcast footage showing HTS fighters inside Hama, some interacting with civilians near a roundabout, while others patrolled in military vehicles and on motorcycles.
This capture follows HTS’s seizure of Aleppo, the major northern city, last week. Since then, they have pushed south from their stronghold in northwest Syria, engaging in fierce fighting around villages outside Hama for two days.
The fall of Hama, which had remained under government control throughout the civil war sparked by the 2011 uprising against Assad, will send shockwaves through Damascus, raising fears of a continued southward advance by anti-government forces.
The recent collapse of pro-government forces in northern Syria highlights the challenges faced by the Assad regime and its allies since 2022. russia’s focus has shifted to the war in Ukraine, while Hezbollah, the most potent pro-Assad force in Syria, has suffered heavy losses in Lebanon.
As his forces entered Hama, al-Golani issued a video statement warning against any involvement by Iraq’s Hashd al-Shaabi militias, another major regional force aligned with Iran.“We urge him (Iraq’s prime minister) again to keep Iraq away from entering the flames of a new war tied to what is happening in Syria,” al-golani stated.
A Pivotal City
Strategically located more than a third of the way between Aleppo and Damascus, Hama’s capture prevents any swift counter-offensive by Assad and his allies.
An advance by anti-Assad forces on Homs,situated 40 kilometers south of Hama,could sever Damascus’s connection to the southern coastal region,a stronghold of the Alawite sect to which Assad belongs,and where Russia maintains naval and air bases.
Jihad Yazigi, editor of the Syria report newsletter, emphasized the gravity of the situation: “Assad now cannot afford to lose anything else. The big battle is the one coming against Homs. If Homs falls, we are talking of a potential change of regime.”
Even though Hama had not previously fallen to anti-government forces, it has historically been a centre of opposition to Damascus’s rule.In 1982, a Muslim Brotherhood uprising in Hama was met with a brutal three-week military assault that resulted in the deaths of over 10,000 people.
Al-Golani referenced this historical event in his statement,saying,“the revolutionaries have begun entering the city of Hama to cleanse a wound that has persisted in Syria for 40 years.” However, he added that “our fighters taking Hama will not exact revenge for the events of 1982.”
Published in Dawn,December 6th,2024
## HTS Capture of Hama: A Turning Point in the Syrian Conflict?
**World-Today-News.com sits down with Dr. Amira Hassan, Senior Analyst for Middle Eastern Affairs at the Institute for Conflict Analysis, to dissect the recent fall of Hama to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and its implications for the Syrian conflict.**
**World-Today-news.com: Dr. Hassan, the fall of Hama to HTS is being hailed as a notable victory by the opposition. what are the strategic implications of this capture?**
**Dr.Hassan:** The capture of Hama marks a major turning point in the Syrian conflict. Hama is a strategically vital city, controlling key transportation routes and serving as a gateway to other crucial regions like Homs and Idlib.This victory grants HTS control over a significant population center and bolsters their territorial hold in northern Syria.
**World-Today-News.com: HTS has stated their intention to march south towards Homs. How likely is this advance, and what could it mean for the Syrian regime and its allies?**
**Dr.Hassan:** HTS’s advance towards Homs is a serious threat. Homs is a key logistical hub connecting Damascus to the north and the coast, and its capture would deal a heavy blow to the Assad regime’s ability to control the country. Though, HTS will likely face stiff resistance from the Syrian army and its allies, particularly in the urban habitat.
**World-Today-News.com: The Syrian army stated their withdrawal from Hama was to “preserve civilian lives.” Is this a credible explanation, or a strategic retreat?**
**Dr.Hassan:** While minimizing civilian casualties is always a crucial concern, the Syrian army’s withdrawal likely reflects a combination of factors. The HTS offensive was fast and overwhelming, catching the regime off guard. Additionally, the Syrian army may be conserving its resources and manpower for a more strategic defense in other key areas.
**World-Today-News.com: HTS’s online call for Hama residents to “rise up in revolution” is a clear indication of their ambition to consolidate control. What does this mean for the civilian population in Hama?**
**Dr. Hassan:** The situation for civilians in hama remains precarious. While HTS claims to be liberating the city, their history is marked by human rights abuses and strict interpretation of Islamic law. The coming days and weeks will be crucial in determining how HTS governs hama and what impact it will have on the lives of its residents.
**World-Today-News.com: How do you see this victory impacting the broader Syrian conflict and international relations?**
**Dr.Hassan:** This victory emboldens HTS and could encourage further advances by opposition forces. It also poses a challenge to Russia and Iran, who have been staunch backers of the Assad regime. The international community will be closely watching the situation to assess the potential for further escalation and a renewed diplomatic push for a lasting solution to the Syrian crisis.
**Thank you for sharing your valuable insights, Dr. Hassan.**
