File image.
After capturing the city of Hama on the afternoon of December 5, al-Qaeda-affiliated Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and its allies began expanding their control in the governorate.
The militants imposed control of Hama Air Base that is located in the western outskirts of Hama city. The base was apparently evacuated ahead by the Syrian Arab Army (SAA), which earlier acknowledged the retreat from the city saying that the withdrawal decision was taken “to preserve the lives of civilians.”
In addition, the militants expanded their control in the western Hama countryside, capturing the towns of al-Shiha and Kafr al-Tun.
Meanwhile in the eastern countryside of Hama, HTS and its allies captured the town of Uqayribat and are reportedly preparing to enter the town of Salamiyah, mostly populated by Shi’ite Nizari Isma’ilis, after brokering an agreement with the locals.
While the SAA appears to have abandoned most of Hama, some troops are still reportedly fighting the militants in very small pockets, mainly in the Zayn al-Abidin mount and the nearby town of Qomhane.
HTS and its allies reached the outskirts of Hama city just three days after launching their large-scale offensive, codenamed Operation Deterrence of Aggression, on November 27. The SAA repelled countless attacks by the militants over the past six days, killing hundreds of militants in the process. However, it failed to hold up.
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