Anti-government fighters carry a rocket intended to be used against government forces, on the northern outskirts of the city of Hama, west-central Syria, on Dec. 4, 2024. (Credit: Bakr Al Kassem/AFP)
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported on Thursday, Dec. 5, violent clashes on the axes of the city of Hama, between the government forces and the opposition Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and other factions. These clashes are taking place in particular on the Zain al-Abidin mountain, without any significant progress so far. The opposition forces have not been able to enter the city, reports the SOHR, while Syrian and Russian warplanes have launched intensive airstrikes since yesterday evening until the early hours of the morning, targeting the towns and villages of Taybet al-Imam, Khattab and Maardis to cut off HTS's supply routes.
Government forces also recaptured the town of al-Sa'an in the eastern countryside of Hama after heavy clashes with HTS. One civilian was killed and others were injured in artillery and missile fire targeting the town of Khattab in the northern countryside of Hama.
Yesterday, government forces recaptured the entire Zain al-Abidin mountain, with heavy artillery and missile support, in addition to aerial bombardments. Government forces recaptured the city of Hama for a few kilometers, restoring control as it was a few hours before.
HTS circled the city of Hama to close the siege of the city from three sides, and the opposition forces advanced from two axes, the first from the village of Khattab in the northwest of the city and the second from the village of al-Mubarakat, east of the city.