Media: Syrian army retakes Hama as opposition forces withdraw after intense fighting

The Syrian Armed Forces have successfully pushed back opposition groups from the city of Hama, located in western Syria.

According to the Bahrain-based Al Watan newspaper, the opposition forces have retreated at least 20 kilometres from the city, Caliber.Az reports.

The Syrian Ministry of Defence had earlier confirmed that the government army had taken full control of Hama. The ministry also dismissed reports circulating on the opposition groups' social media pages, claiming that militants had infiltrated the Sawaiq and Mazarib neighbourhoods, labelling them as part of a psychological warfare campaign.

The recent developments follow a major offensive by armed opposition groups, which began on November 27. The groups, primarily led by the Islamist faction Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), launched a surprise attack on Assad's forces, particularly targeting the cities of Aleppo, Idlib, and Hama. This offensive, one of the deadliest in years, saw the insurgents seize more than 50 towns and villages from Syrian government forces, pushing further into territory held by Assad’s regime.

The clashes resulted in over 250 fatalities, mostly combatants, and caused significant displacement, with more than 14,000 people, including many children, fleeing the affected areas. Civilian casualties have also been reported due to ongoing aerial bombardments and ground fighting.

Earlier reports indicate that opposition forces have intensified their offensive, capturing at least 16 settlements, including Jalimeh, Alzeqa, Beridej, Jubein, Tal Meleh, Karkat, Mugayir, and Mabtan, as well as towns in the Ghab plain like Tuwayne, Huweiz, Shariat, Taka, and Bab. 

The Syrian government, led by President Bashar al-Assad, regained control of Aleppo in 2016 after months of intense fighting and heavy bombardment, supported by Russian airpower. 

By Tamilla Hasanova