Revolutionary forces within the Repelling the Aggression campaign claimed a significant victory Thursday as they entered the strategic city of Hama, forcing Assad regime forces to retreat. The move marks the first time Revolutionary forces have gained such a foothold in Hama since the Syrian revolution began in 2011.
The Command of Military Operations (CMO) confirmed control over the city this evening following intense battles. The clashes, which involved heavy and medium weapons, resulted in severe losses for regime forces and their allies, including Iranian militias. The revolution also captured the 66th Missile Brigade east of Hama, a pivotal military base in the area.
Hama, Syria’s fourth-largest city, holds both historical and symbolic significance in the country’s tumultuous history. It has been a focal point of revolution against the Baath Party since the 1960s. In 1982, the city witnessed one of the most notorious massacres in Syrian history, when forces under Hafez al-Assad, the current dictator’s father, killed tens of thousands of civilians during a crackdown on a Muslim Brotherhood-led uprising.
The city also holds strategic value, lying at the center of Syria and serving as a gateway to Homs and other parts of the country. Controlling Hama allows revolutionary forces to press further south, potentially threatening regime strongholds in Homs and Damascus.
Abbas Sharifa, a researcher specializing in Syrian affairs, explained the deep-rooted tensions between Hama’s population and the regime. “The seeds of the conflict between Hama and the regime began in the 1960s, exploded in 1982, and returned in 2011,” he said, underscoring the city’s long-standing resistance.
In addition to their gains within Hama city, revolutionary forces expanded their control across the countryside, seizing over 20 military sites and villages. Fierce battles at Mount Zain al-Abidin, a strategic position north of Hama, ended with the CMO forces claiming the strategic location that served as a regime and Iranian command center. Reports indicate Shaheen drones were used to destroy dozens of military vehicles.
The Revolutionary forces also took control of Hama Military Airport, a significant base for regime air operations, and released around 3,000 prisoners from Hama Central Prison. Colonel Hassan Abdulghani, a CMO spokesperson, described the operation as reclaiming the city from decades of oppression. “Hama was robbed from its people by Hafez al-Assad’s tanks; today, we have returned it to its rightful owners,” he said.
The Assad regime acknowledged its withdrawal from Hama, framing it as a move to protect civilian lives. “Military units have repositioned outside the city after the intensification of confrontations,” the regime stated. However, this withdrawal highlights the growing weakness of regime forces, which are reportedly stretched thin due to battles on multiple fronts and years of decay from within.
The loss of Hama has drawn international attention. Syria specialist and analyst Charles Lister commented on recent developments noting that, “From 2011 to 2023, Assad lost control of two provincial capitals – Raqqa and Idlib. In the space of eight days, he’s just lost two more – Aleppo and Hama, Syria’s second and fourth biggest cities.”
Russia has also been nervously watching the rapidity at which its ally in Damascus’ troops are loosing ground. Russian warplanes carried out airstrikes on Thursday morning, targeting advancing revolutionary forces in northern Hama. However, analysts believe Russia’s focus on the war in Ukraine has diminished its ability to provide the same robust support for the Assad regime as it did in 2015 and 2016. Iranian-backed militias also appear to be struggling under logistical constraints as they face growing resistance in Syria.
Russian and Iranian backing has been critical to the Assad regime’s survival since the early years of the conflict. However, Thursday’s events reveal cracks in this alliance’s ability to maintain control over key regions. Nikolai Sukhov, a researcher at the Russian Academy of Sciences, noted that the revolution’s capture of Hama underscores “the growing crisis of the Syrian state in its military, political, and economic aspects.”
The capture of Hama has raised hopes among the Syrian people for further advances. With Salamiyah, a key city in Hama’s eastern countryside, also close to liberation, the campaign’s next move could bring them closer to Homs.
In a rare statement, Abu Muhammad al-Jolani, leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), pledged that the liberation of Hama would bring “mercy and love” rather than revenge. “Your brothers, the mujahideen revolutionaries, have entered the city of Hama to cleanse a wound that has persisted in Syria for 40 years,” he said in a video message to the city’s residents.
The capture of Hama signifies more than just a military victory. It highlights the resilience of the Syrian Revolution and serves as a reminder of the deep-seated animosity between the regime and its people. For many Syrians, Hama represents a symbol of resistance against decades of authoritarian rule. As battles continue to rage in the surrounding countryside, the question remains: will this be the beginning of a larger shift in Syria’s protracted conflict?
