After the fall of Aleppo, Hama has also succumbed to terrorist organizations led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). The group now sets its sights on the strategically vital region of Homs, a move that could reshape the future of Syria.
Since 27 November, intense clashes between HTS-led forces and the Syrian army have led to significant territorial shifts. For the first time since the Syrian civil war began in 2011, Hama has fallen under HTS control.
A statement from the Syrian army confirmed its withdrawal from Hama, explaining that forces redeployed after HTS fighters entered the city.
Several areas near Hama, including the predominantly Christian town of Salamiyya, the village of Eyyo, and the town of Misyaf, along with 40 associated villages, have opted to remain neutral. Consequently, no clashes are expected in these regions.
HTS has seized several critical military assets, including the 66th Air Defence Brigade and its associated air defence systems northeast of Hama, the Hursan Artillery Unit, located east of Hama, and the al-Hamra ammunition depots northeast of the city.
The loss of Hama—a central hub for the Syrian government’s military power—represents a significant turning point. This development has severed Damascus’s connection to Idlib and Aleppo, further isolating the capital.
HTS’s next objective is Homs, located approximately 40 kilometers south of Hama. Capturing Homs would allow HTS to cut off Damascus from the coastal cities of Latakia and Tartus, potentially crippling the Syrian government’s logistical and strategic capabilities.
