Rebel Forces Capture Second Major City in Syria

The Syrian civil war has reignited with devastating force as Hama, Syria’s fourth-largest city, fell to rebel forces on Thursday. This marks the second major city captured by the militants within a week, following their surprise takeover of Aleppo.

The militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a faction previously affiliated with al-Qaeda, spearheaded the assault on Hama. Representatives from both HTS and the Assad regime confirmed the city’s capture. HTS commander Hassan Abdul-Ghani announced that the group had secured the Hama Central Prison, freeing “hundreds of unjustly imprisoned individuals.”

Hama is a significant strategic asset due to its military resources and location near other key cities. Regime forces reportedly withdrew to avoid urban combat that could endanger civilians. Syria’s defense ministry justified the retreat, stating, “to safeguard the lives of the civilian population in Hama ... military units have redeployed and repositioned outside the city.”

HTS’s rapid advances have reshaped the battlefield dynamics in Syria. The group, designated as a terrorist organization by the United States in 2018, has received support from Turkey, a NATO member. Meanwhile, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime relies heavily on aid from Iran, Russia, and Hezbollah.

The U.S. remains cautious, refusing to back either side in the conflict. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan described the situation as “complicated” earlier this week.

“The group at the vanguard of this rebel advance, HTS, is actually a terrorist organization designated by the United States,” Sullivan stated. “At the same time, we don’t cry over the fact that the Assad government backed by Russia, Iran, and Hezbollah are facing certain kinds of pressure.”

Israel, the United States’ closest ally in the region, has adopted a similar stance, emphasizing a preference for prolonged conflict that weakens both sides. An Israeli official told The Times of Israel, “One side are Salafi jihadists, and the other side is Iran and Hezbollah. We want them to weaken one another.”

The civil war’s resurgence poses serious risks for regional stability. HTS’s successes embolden its jihadist agenda, while Assad’s regime remains a key ally to adversaries of U.S. and Israeli interests, including Iran and Russia. With both sides in the conflict presenting significant threats, the United States and its allies are monitoring the situation closely but remain reluctant to intervene directly.

As the fighting intensifies, the civilians caught in the crossfire face increasing peril. The fall of Hama underscores the enduring volatility of Syria’s civil war and the broader geopolitical tensions that fuel it.

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