Clashes erupt in Hama as Syrian rebels advance and govt forces counter
MNP – Rebel forces in northwestern Syria have made significant advances, pushing towards the strategic city of Hama after capturing Aleppo in a rapid offensive that began last week.
The opposition, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a prominent group formerly known as al-Nusra Front, has seized key locations in the area, including the military academy and Khanasir, a critical supply route.
This sudden escalation has led to intense counterattacks by Syrian government forces, supported by Russian airstrikes.
According to reports, Syrian and Russian warplanes have launched heavy bombardments on opposition-controlled areas, including Idlib and Aleppo, as they attempt to push back the advancing rebels.
The aerial strikes, which began Saturday, reportedly targeted weapons depots and rebel strongholds, although local sources have raised alarms over civilian casualties. On Sunday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that Russian airstrikes hit camps for displaced people in northern Syria, killing at least eight civilians and injuring 50 others.
The latest fighting, which marks a major shift in the Syrian conflict, has intensified fears of a potential “scorched earth” response from the Assad regime and its allies. Human rights activist Razan Saffour, speaking to Al Jazeera, expressed concern over the vulnerability of rebel-held territories to aerial bombardments, recalling similar tactics used by Russian and Syrian forces in past offensives.
