The Islamist group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, claimed control of Hama after intense fighting, marking a significant setback for President Assad amid the shifting battlefront.
The rebels' capture of Hama, which sits on the strategic M5 highway, could serve to protect their previous gains in northern Syria.
The recent advances by rebel forces illustrate the fragility of Assad's security forces and could redefine the front lines of the ongoing civil war.
Despite recent gains, experts caution that the rebels' momentum does not signal the imminent overthrow of Assad's regime, highlighting the ongoing complexities of the conflict.
Collection
[
|
...
]