The Syrian military has deployed significant reinforcements to the northern countryside of Hama, aiming to bolster frontline defenses as rebel factions advance in central Syria.
State media reported on Tuesday that additional troops have been sent to this critical battleground to confront Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an al-Qaida-linked group, and its allies. The militants, who recently seized control of Aleppo, have intensified their offensive toward Hama, escalating the ongoing conflict.
Pro-government broadcaster Sham FM denied reports that HTS forces had entered Hama, stating that clashes were ongoing 8 kilometers northeast of the city. It added that reinforcements continued to pour into the area to repel the rebel advance.
However, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitoring group based in Britain, reported that HTS and allied factions were advancing from multiple directions, tightening their grip on the city. It also noted that Russian and Syrian airstrikes targeted rebel positions across Hama, southeastern Aleppo, and the Badia desert.
In eastern Syria’s Deir el-Zour province, heavy fighting erupted between government forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), backed by the U.S.-led coalition. According to the Observatory, U.S. warplanes conducted airstrikes near a military air base in Deir el-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 made only limited gains in capturing strategic villages, the Observatory said.
Meanwhile, Aleppo is facing a deepening humanitarian crisis following its capture by rebel forces. Essential services and infrastructure have collapsed, leaving thousands of residents without basic necessities. Displaced individuals from the predominantly Shiite towns of Nubl and Zahraa remain stranded in al-Safira, enduring freezing temperatures and inadequate shelter.
Sham FM reported that approximately 2,000 people are trapped without safe corridors to escape rebel-held areas. Key hospitals, including Zahi Azraq, al-Razi, and Ibn Rushd, have been severely damaged or rendered non-operational.
“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 Observatory stated, calling for global attention to the escalating conflicts in Deir el-Zour and Hama. It warned that 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
