A war monitor says rebel forces are now within striking distance of the city
The rebels seized Hama to the north on Thursday, a second major blow to President Bashar al-Assad who lost control of Aleppo last week
The rebels’ goal is the overthrow of Assad’s regime, the leader of the Islamist militant group HTS says in a CNN interview
The rebel push is the largest offensive launched against the government in years, but a civil war has continued in Syria since the Arab Spring in 2011.
Their goal is the overthrow of Assad’s regime, the leader of the Islamist militant group HTS says in a CNN interview
The current push is the largest offensive launched against the government in years, but a civil war has continued in Syria since the Arab Spring in 2011
Another symbol of the Assad regime has fallen as rebel fighters continue their rapid advance through Syria.
Following the seizure of Hama city yesterday, footage has emerged of a statue of former President Hafez al-Assad being pulled down in the south of the city.
The people seen surrounding the statue appear to be civilians, as many are dressed in regular clothing.
As the monument falls, those gathered celebrate with fireworks and cheers.
Hafez al-Assad – father of the current President Bashar al-Assad – led the country when an uprising in Hama was brutally supressed in 1982, leaving at least 10,000 people dead according to rights groups.
A statue of Hafez’s other son, Bassel, was torn down by rebel fighters in Aleppo after they seized the city last week.
