The Syrian military has dispatched substantial reinforcements to the northern countryside of Hama as rebel factions, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), intensify their advance in central Syria. This development follows the recent capture of Aleppo by rebel forces, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the region.
According to an announcement from the Syrian Ministry of Defense on Tuesday, additional troops have been deployed to fortify frontline defenses in Hama. The area has become a critical battleground between government forces and HTS, an al-Qaida-linked group, along with its allies. The militants, who seized Aleppo last week, are reportedly pushing southward, heightening tensions in west-central Syria.
Pro-government broadcaster Sham FM refuted claims that HTS forces had entered Hama city, asserting that clashes are ongoing approximately 8 kilometers northeast of the urban center. “Reinforcements continue to arrive to repel the rebel advance,” the broadcaster reported, emphasizing the military’s commitment to defending the region.
Contradicting official reports, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based monitoring group, indicated that HTS and allied factions are making significant advances from multiple directions, potentially tightening their grip on Hama. The Observatory also noted that Russian and Syrian airstrikes have been targeting rebel positions across Hama, southeastern Aleppo, and the Badia desert, signaling an escalation in military operations.
In eastern Syria’s Deir el-Zour province, heavy fighting has erupted between government forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), supported by the U.S.-led coalition. The Syrian Observatory reported that U.S. warplanes conducted airstrikes near a military air base in Deir al-Zour, resulting in the deaths of six soldiers from the Syrian army’s elite Republican Guard.
Despite intense clashes and coalition airstrikes, the SDF has reportedly made only limited gains in capturing strategic villages, highlighting the complexities of the multi-front conflict.
Meanwhile, the city of Aleppo faces a deepening humanitarian crisis. Essential services and infrastructure have collapsed since the province fell to rebel forces on Friday. Thousands of displaced residents from the predominantly Shiite towns of Nubl and Zahraa are stranded in al-Safira, confronted with freezing temperatures and inadequate shelter.
Sham FM reported that approximately 2,000 individuals are trapped without safe corridors to escape rebel-controlled areas. Key hospitals, including Zahi Azraq, al-Razi, and Ibn Rushd, have been severely damaged or rendered non-operational, dramatically reducing access to medical care.
“Medical staff are doing their utmost to respond to emergencies despite equipment shortages,” a source told Sham FM. Dozens of injured civilians remain stranded in Aleppo, unable to access secure evacuation routes.
Adding to the turmoil, residents have reported home invasions by unidentified armed groups looting valuables under the pretext of inspections. Civil society organizations have urged residents to secure their homes and avoid interactions with armed factions. Communication blackouts and the shutdown of financial services have further paralyzed the city.
Humanitarian agencies are racing against time to address shortages of food, medical supplies, and other necessities. Efforts to restore water and electricity intermittently and distribute bread have provided some relief, but the overall situation remains dire.
“The situation in Aleppo requires urgent intervention by the United Nations to avert a humanitarian catastrophe,” the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights stated, calling for global attention to the escalating conflicts in Deir el-Zour and Hama. It warned that the continued fighting could lead to further destabilization as rival factions vie for strategic territories.
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Syrian military bolsters defenses in Hama amid rebel advances
cgtn.com
