Syrian rebel forces pushed to within striking distance of Hama on Tuesday, rebels and war monitors reported, threatening one of President Bashar al-Assad’s major strongholds just days after their stunning capture of Aleppo sent shockwaves through the region.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed insurgents had captured several villages, including Maar Shahur, just miles north of Hama, a city that has remained under government control since Syria’s civil war erupted in 2011. Syrian state media acknowledged the threat, reporting that military reinforcements were rushing to the area.
International reaction was swift, with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi indicating in an Arabic-language interview that Tehran would consider deploying troops if Damascus requested assistance. Russian President Vladimir Putin called for an end to “terrorist aggression” in Syria, according to RIA news agency, while Iraqi Prime Minister Shia al-Sudani warned Baghdad would not remain “a mere spectator.”
The rebel offensive has gained momentum as Assad’s traditional allies face their own challenges. Russia’s military focus remains divided by the Ukraine war, while Israeli strikes over the past three months have severely impacted Hezbollah, Assad’s strongest Iran-backed supporter. Though hundreds of Iran-backed Iraqi militia fighters entered Syria Monday to reinforce government positions, Hezbollah has not committed to sending additional forces.
Adding to Assad’s difficulties, U.S.-backed Kurdish-led forces opened a new front in the northeast, with the Syrian Democratic Forces claiming control of seven villages previously held by the government along the eastern bank of the Euphrates River. The development threatens vital supply routes and further complicates the increasingly crowded battlefield, where U.S., Russian, Iranian, and Turkish interests converge.
Russian and Syrian warplanes have responded with intensified airstrikes against rebel positions, according to both sides, while rescue workers report deadly strikes on hospitals in Aleppo and Idlib provinces. The escalation risks further destabilizing a region already roiled by conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon, though a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah took effect last week.
REUTERS
