Syria’s Rebel Coalition Scores Second Major Victory, Captures Hama After Aleppo

Syrian rebels have captured the strategically important city of Hama, marking a significant second victory for a newly formed coalition after their surprise takeover of Aleppo last week, CNN reports.

The Syrian army announced its withdrawal from Hama, citing heavy losses and intense fighting with “terrorist groups.”

The state news agency SANA reported the military statement, which acknowledged the rebels’ penetration of several parts of the city.

“Over the past few hours, with the intensification of confrontations… these groups were able to penetrate several parts of the city and entered it,” the statement read.

The statement also alluded to significant casualties within the Syrian army.

Hama’s capture follows the rebels’ stunning recapture of Aleppo last week, Syria’s second-largest city. That offensive overwhelmed President Bashar al-Assad’s forces and allied militias, marking a major setback for the regime and its backers, Iran and Russia. The renewed offensive has reignited the Syrian civil war after a period of relative dormancy.

Hama’s strategic location at a key crossroads in western-central Syria makes its capture particularly significant. The city serves as a vital link between the capital, Damascus, and Aleppo, potentially disrupting crucial supply lines for the Assad regime.