ALEPPO: Syrian Rebels Seize Second Major City as Army Withdraws from Hama. Hama is a central city of strategic and symbolic importance.
The withdrawal marks the second significant victory for a new rebel coalition, which captured Aleppo last week.
“In recent hours, terrorist groups breached multiple areas of Hama amid clashes and significant losses among our forces,” said a military statement published by state media SANA.
Syrian Rebels claimed to have liberated hundreds of “wrongfully detained” prisoners from Hama’s central prison.
Aleppo, Syria’s second-largest city, fell to rebel forces last week after a surprise assault overwhelmed government troops and allied militias.
The capture of Aleppo dealt a significant blow to President Bashar al-Assad and his allies, Iran and Russia.
This offensive has reignited the Syrian civil war, which had been largely stagnant in recent years.
Hama sits at a critical junction, connecting the capital Damascus to Aleppo through essential supply lines.
Since the Syrian conflict began in 2011, rebels had failed to seize Hama until this recent breakthrough.
