The Repelling the Aggression campaign, spearheaded by the Command of Military Operations (CMO) coalition, continues to reshape the military landscape in northwestern Syria. On Tuesday, revolutionary forces from the Deterrence of Aggression operations room captured over 20 towns and villages in Hama’s northern and western countryside, advancing steadily toward Hama city, a strategic stronghold of the Assad regime’s 25th Special Tasks Division.
Military sources reported that the campaign seized key areas, including Qalaat Al-Madiq, Taybat Al-Imam, Soran, Maardis, Halfaya, Tal Al-Nasiriyah, and Rahbat Khattab. Villages such as Al-Huwaiz, Al-Amqiyah, Al-Hawash, Al-Huwaija, Beit Al-Ras, and Al-Tuwaina in the northwestern countryside of Hama also fell under their control. These advancements bring the revolutionary forces closer to Hama city from both the western and northern axes.
The campaign has inflicted significant losses on Assad regime forces and their Russian and Iranian-backed militias. The 25th Special Tasks Division, often considered an elite unit, has suffered over 100 fatalities in the past 24 hours, with the destruction of four tanks, and several vehicles, and the capture of key equipment. Revolutionary forces are advancing on the town of Arza, a critical gateway to the Hama military airport.
“If Arza is captured, the operations at Hama military airport, which have targeted civilian areas in Idlib and its countryside, will be severely disrupted,” a source from the operations room confirmed. The airport’s proximity to the front lines underscores its strategic importance, as its operations have long been a source of destruction for civilians in liberated areas.
Major Jamil Al-Saleh of the CMO, said “The Iranian militias and regime forces are trying to instill fear in the people … to tarnish the image of the Syrian revolution. We categorically affirm that we are not hostile to any component of the Syrian people and are only fighting those who choose to side with the criminal regime. …our goal is to liberate the Syrian people from oppression and tyranny.”
As the campaign progresses, the humanitarian toll continues to rise due to the Assad regime and Russia’s attacks. Civil Defense teams report hundreds of civilian casualties from recent airstrikes targeting hospitals, schools, and residential areas in Idlib and Aleppo. The targeting of civilian infrastructure has drawn international condemnation.
“We call on all nations to prioritize the safety of civilians and ensure their protection from indiscriminate attacks,” Al-Bahra urged. He also emphasized the need for immediate international aid to stabilize liberated areas and prevent further displacement.
Global powers, including the US, EU, and UK, have reiterated the necessity of a Syrian-led political solution. However, they also criticized the Assad regime’s reliance on foreign allies and refusal to engage meaningfully in negotiations.
US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller described Assad as a “brutal dictator” and called for a credible political process consistent with UN Security Council Resolution 2254. Similarly, the UK Foreign Office accused the regime of obstructing peace efforts and escalating violence, creating the conditions for the ongoing conflict.
As the revolutionaries advance toward Hama, the Assad regime faces mounting pressure on multiple fronts. The liberation of Hama City would mark a significant turning point in the struggle for Syria’s future, further exposing the regime’s fragility and inability to govern a nation that continues to reject its oppressive rule.
