Syrian rebels have achieved a significant victory by driving government forces out of Hama, a major city that had been under the control of President Bashar al-Assad's regime for over a decade during the country's civil war. The Syrian military confirmed its withdrawal from Hama after rebels, led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), successfully penetrated several parts of the city.
The rebels, in their week-long offensive, have now captured both Aleppo and Hama, further destabilizing Assad's grip on the nation. The strategic importance of Hama lies in its location as a key crossroads in western-central Syria, providing crucial supply lines between the capital Damascus and Aleppo.
