On Thursday, Syrian rebels captured the key city of Hama from regime forces, bringing the insurgents another major victory in their lightning advance across northern Syria and dealing a new blow to President Bashar al-Assad and his Russian and Iranian allies.
The Syrian army announced it’s retreat from the city, saying it was: “to preserve civilians lives and prevent urban combat.”
Rebel forces seized control of the central prison in Hama, freeing the prisoners inside. Al Jazeera broadcasted footage of rebel fighters entering the city in military vehicles and on mopeds, with some stopping to talk with civilians.
The capture of Hama by the rebels follows their surprising capture of Aleppo in northern Syria last week. Hama is the next city along the highway leading to Damascus in the south of the country. The rebels are likely to attempt to take the central city of Homs, the third-largest city in Syria, 25 miles further south along the highway.
As the rebel forces entered Hama, the main insurgent commander Abu Mohammed al-Golani released a video statement warning the Iranian backed Hashd al-Shaabi Iraqi militias from joining the fight, saying: “We urge him (Iraq’s prime minister) again to keep Iraq away from entering into the flames of a new war tied to what is happening in Syria.”
While the rebel leader has pledged to protect minorities, his pledge will face a big test in Hama, an area with a large Christian and Ismaili Muslim population. The rebels have past affiliations with ISIS and Qaeda, and are designated as terrorists by the US.
