Syrian rebels push towards Hama as government forces begin offensive | Syrian War News

Rebel groups in northwest Syria say they are holding on to the city of Hama after taking control of Aleppo in a military offensive that began last week.

Sunday’s push to advance comes in the fifth day of a surprise offensive against the rebels as Syrian and Russian forces launched an offensive, reportedly hitting opposition-held Idlib province and Aleppo with airstrikes since Saturday.

Government forces under Syrian President Bashar al-Assad have also been strengthening the northern province of Hama, according to the Syrian news agency, SANA. It reported that the army overnight pushed back the fighters of the opposition groups in the northern countryside. The forces there were also provided with heavy equipment and rockets, according to SANA.

On Sunday, the United Nations special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, called on all parties involved in the conflict to urgently seek a political solution.

“The recent events pose a great risk to the people and have a great impact on the peace and security of the region and other countries,” he said.

The battle marks the most significant turning point in Syria’s decades-long war, which began with popular uprisings across the country in 2011. As of 2020, the front lines have been stagnant as dozens of rebel groups are contained to a small part of Idlib province. .

But on Friday, opposition fighters led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) entered Aleppo, prompting government forces to withdraw from the most important city of more than 2 million people.

Rebels have since scored several victories, including taking control of the commercial city of Khansir, Aleppo Industrial City, Aleppo’s military academy and military college.

Formerly known as al-Nusra Front, the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda, HTS distanced itself from the group when it became a powerful opposition movement in northwestern Syria.

It is still considered a “terrorist” organization by the United States, Syria and Russia.

Push straight to Hama

In his first public remarks since the offensive began, issued late Saturday, al-Assad said his forces would continue to protect “the stability and integrity of the region from terrorists and their supporters”.

He said Syria is capable of defeating rebel groups no matter how intense their attacks are.

But reporting from the Turkey-Syria border, Al Jazeera’s Sinem Koseoglu said rebel forces are staying on the outskirts of Hama and are “trying to fight the Syrian government forces there”.

“Villages, cities taken by the opposition, sometimes the Syrian government forces take them back,” he said. “So there is an exchange [control]. However, it is very strong, very flexible on the ground.”

The government said the airstrikes in opposition-controlled areas were targeting weapons depots and rebel strongholds.

However, the United Kingdom’s war monitor, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said Russian airstrikes hit camps for displaced people on Sunday, killing eight civilians and wounding 50.

The Syrian Civil Defense, which operates in opposition-held areas, also reported a series of attacks in Aleppo, including the Aleppo University Hospital in the city center. It was not clear if there were any casualties.

The years of war in Syria have created one of the world’s largest displacement crises as thousands of people have been reported to have fled their homes in the latest fighting.

Fear of a ‘scorched earth’

Speaking to Al Jazeera, Razan Saffour, a British-Syrian human rights activist with family in Aleppo, said that although there is stability in Aleppo, there are fears about the response from the Russian government and military.

Russia’s military intervention in the country since 2015 and Iran’s two years helped turn the war in al-Assad’s favor. Russian bombing of Aleppo then helped government forces take full control of the city in 2016.

“We are talking about rebel groups that are gaining territory in Syria at a high speed, but at the same time, they have no air defense,” he said.

“And we have seen this happen [previously]… the al-Assad regime, Russia and their ally Iran have responded with a scorched earth policy.”

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was due to travel to Damascus on Sunday, telling reporters that Tehran would support al-Assad.

Jordan’s King Abdullah II and United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan also expressed solidarity with al-Assad in recent calls with him.

However, Saffour said that beyond the confusion and fear, there is also longing among the citizens of Aleppo who have been under government control for years.

“We’re very nervous, but we’re also very excited and very hopeful to see what’s next,” she said.