December 5th 2024.
A group of Syrian insurgents has made a powerful move by taking over the central city of Hama. This has dealt yet another heavy blow to Syrian President Bashar Assad, who is still reeling from the recent capture of Aleppo, the largest city in the country. This bold offensive has been ongoing for a week now and it seems that the insurgents are not planning on slowing down anytime soon. In fact, their next target is Homs, the third-largest city in Syria. Located just 40km south of Hama, Homs is a crucial gateway to Damascus, the capital city and Assad's stronghold, as well as the coastal region that has been a major source of support for him.
The main forces behind this offensive are the jihadi group HTS and the Syrian National Army, a coalition of Turkish-backed Syrian militias. Their capture of Aleppo, a historically significant trading hub in the north, has been a major victory for Assad's opponents. It has also reignited the Syrian civil war, which had been at a standstill for the past few years. One of the few cities that remained under government control throughout the conflict, Hama has now fallen into the hands of the insurgents.
As the sun set on Thursday, footage from Hama's Assi Square showed jubilant fighters celebrating their victory by firing shots into the air. This square holds a significant place in the history of the Syrian uprising, as it was the site of massive anti-government protests in the early days of the conflict. However, the security forces quickly took control of the city and suppressed the protests.
In response to the insurgents' advance, the Syrian army has redeployed from Hama and taken positions outside the city to protect civilians. Meanwhile, in a video message, Abu Mohammed al-Golani, the leader of the Syrian insurgency, stated that their conquest of Hama was not driven by revenge, but rather by mercy and compassion. Al-Golani also heads Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the most powerful insurgent group in Syria that was formerly known as al-Qaida's branch in the country. Despite cutting ties with al-Qaida in recent years, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham is still considered a terrorist group by the United Nations and several countries, including the US.
According to Dareen Khalifa, a senior adviser with the International Crisis Group and an expert on Syrian groups, the insurgents' capture of Hama is a major victory for them and a strategic blow to the Assad regime. She believes that the real test will be whether the opposition can also take control of Homs, which would be a game-changer in the conflict. She also adds that if this happens, it may be time to reassess the regime's ability to survive the war.
Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a supporter of the opposition fighters, has stressed the importance of the Syrian government engaging with its people for a comprehensive political solution. This sentiment was echoed in a phone call with the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. However, with Assad's main allies, Russia and Iran, preoccupied with their own wars in other parts of the world, there seems to be little hope for help from them this time.
As the fighting continues, tens of thousands of people have been displaced from their homes yet again. The latest flare-up in the long-standing Syrian civil war has brought more chaos and suffering to the people of this war-torn country. Hama, being a major intersection that links the center of Syria with the north, east, and west, holds great strategic importance. As the insurgents continue to gain ground, it remains to be seen how this will impact the overall trajectory of the conflict.
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