Syrian military bolsters defenses in Hama amid rebel advances as Aleppo reels in humanitarian crisis
DAMASCUS - The Syrian military has sent significant reinforcements to Hama, aiming to strengthen front-line defenses as rebel factions advance in central Syria. Meanwhile, Aleppo faces a deepening humanitarian crisis following its capture by rebel forces, according to reports from state media and activists.
The Syrian Ministry of Defense announced Tuesday that additional troops have been deployed to the northern countryside of Hama, a critical battleground between government forces and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an al-Qaida-linked group, and its allies. The militants, who seized Aleppo last week, have intensified their offensive toward Hama in west-central Syria, escalating the conflict.
Pro-government broadcaster Sham FM denied reports that HTS forces had entered Hama, stating that clashes were ongoing 8 km northeast of the city. The broadcaster added that reinforcements continued to pour into the area to repel the rebel advance.
However, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitoring group, reported that HTS and allied factions were advancing from multiple directions, tightening their grip on the city.
It also noted that Russian and Syrian airstrikes targeted rebel positions across Hama, southeastern Aleppo, and the Badia desert.
In Deir el-Zour province, eastern Syria, heavy fighting erupted between government forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), backed by the US-led coalition.
According to the Observatory, US warplanes conducted airstrikes near a military air base in Deir al-Zour, killing six soldiers from the Syrian army's elite Republican Guard.
Despite intense clashes and coalition airstrikes, the SDF has made only limited gains in capturing strategic villages, the Observatory said.
In Aleppo, the humanitarian situation has reached a critical point. Essential services and infrastructure have collapsed since the province fell to rebel forces on Friday.
Thousands of displaced residents from the predominantly Shiite towns of Nubl and Zahraa remain stranded in al-Safira, facing freezing temperatures and insufficient shelter.
Sham FM reported that approximately 2,000 individuals are trapped without safe corridors to escape rebel-controlled areas. Key hospitals, including Zahi Azraq, al-Razi, and Ibn Rushd, have been severely damaged or rendered non-operational.
"Medical staff are doing their utmost to respond to emergencies despite equipment shortages," a source told Sham FM. Dozens of injured civilians remain stranded in Aleppo, unable to access secure evacuation routes.
Adding to the turmoil, residents have reported home invasions by unidentified armed groups looting valuables under the pretext of inspections. Civil society organizations have urged residents to secure their homes and avoid interactions with armed factions. Communication blackouts and the shutdown of financial services have further paralyzed the city.
Humanitarian agencies are racing against time to address shortages of food, medical supplies, and necessities. Efforts to restore water and electricity intermittently and distribute bread have provided some relief, but the overall situation remains dire.
"The situation in Aleppo requires urgent intervention by the United Nations to avert a humanitarian catastrophe," the Observatory stated, calling for global attention to the escalating conflicts in Deir el-Zour and Hama. It warned that the continued fighting could lead to further destabilization as rival factions vie for strategic territories.
