Syrian rebel forces, led by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), recently captured the strategic city of Hama, in a significant blow to President Bashar al-Assad’s regime. The city, located along the M5 highway connecting Damascus to northern Syria, is critical for supply lines and military operations.
Syrian rebel forces have toppled a statue of Hafez al-Assad at the southern entrance to the city of Hama. pic.twitter.com/P7njJj3KGw
— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) December 5, 2024
After intense fighting and heavy losses, Syrian government forces retreated southward toward Homs, reportedly to regroup for a defensive stand.
WATCH
SIRYA 📍The Hama-Homs road is under relentless fire as Syrian Rebels advances toward one of Assad’s toughest stronghold near Lebanon. pic.twitter.com/SeYaD6C0Tp
— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) December 5, 2024
HTS and its allies, including the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA), have now shifted their focus toward Homs, another key city along the road to Damascus. If Homs falls, analysts warn that Assad’s control over western Syria could collapse, cutting off access to the Alawite coastal regions and key ports. This would also disrupt Iran’s supply routes to Hezbollah in Lebanon, which are already under pressure from Israeli airstrikes.
#Syria 🇸🇾: Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (#HTS) sleeper cells reportedly carried out armed attacks against Syrian Forces in #Homs.
Seemingly the attack was carried out with 7.62x39mm AKM-pattern assault rifles and #China-made 🇨🇳 Type 56 assault rifles. pic.twitter.com/YXrDQ1vUxZ
— War Noir (@war_noir) December 5, 2024
Following Hama’s capture, Russian forces launched airstrikes targeting a bridge over the Orontes River along the M5 highway. The bridge, a vital ground line of communication between Hama and Homs, is critical to troop movements and logistics for both sides. While these strikes temporarily slowed the rebel advance, they have not halted HTS’s rapid momentum.
The Syrian army’s poor morale, low pay, and corruption within its ranks have exacerbated its inability to withstand the offensive. Recent reports indicate increasing desertions and defections among Assad’s forces. In a bid to bolster loyalty, Assad raised military salaries by 50% earlier this week.
The capture of Hama has displaced more than 280,000 civilians, according to the UN’s World Food Programme, adding to the existing humanitarian crisis in Syria. Thousands are fleeing south toward Homs and Damascus or seeking refuge in Kurdish-administered areas. Aid organizations are struggling to meet the growing need for food, shelter, and medical care.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan described the conflict as entering “a new phase,” urging the Syrian government to engage in a political solution. Meanwhile, Moscow and Tehran, Assad’s key allies, are reportedly reassessing their military commitments in Syria as their resources are stretched thin by other conflicts, including the war in Ukraine.
HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Jolani has framed the offensive as a campaign to rectify historical grievances, particularly referencing Hama’s legacy as a site of the 1982 massacre carried out by Assad’s father. Jolani pledged mercy to Hama’s residents and called for defections from pro-regime forces.
