Syria’s fourth-largest city, Hama, faces escalating tensions as rebels advance closer, fueled by their rapid capture of territories in the north.

The offensive, which shattered four years of relative calm in the region, has met with stiff resistance from government forces, backed by Syrian and Russian airstrikes.

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a group with roots in Al-Qaeda, and its allies pushed forward Tuesday into northern Hama’s countryside, encountering their toughest battles yet.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported intense clashes, describing it as the heaviest fighting since the offensive began last Wednesday.

“Rebel factions have seized multiple towns in the last few hours, but Syrian and Russian air forces have conducted dozens of airstrikes on their positions,” the Observatory noted.

Int'l appeals for de-escalation

The sudden resurgence of violence comes as Lebanon grapples with a fragile ceasefire, prompting international calls for calm. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed alarm at the renewed conflict and urged an immediate halt to hostilities. Similarly, the European Union and the United States have called for restraint and a return to political dialogue.

US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller stressed the importance of leveraging diplomatic influence to protect civilians and prevent further escalation.

For President Bashar al-Assad’s government, losing Hama could have significant implications. The city has historical ties to opposition movements, notably the scars of the 1982 massacre during a crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood. Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman noted that a rebel capture of Hama would “pose a threat to the regime’s popular base,” particularly as the surrounding countryside houses many Alawite communities loyal to Assad.

Abandoned military vehicles and tanks littered roads leading to Hama, as reported by an AFP journalist on the ground. Rebel fighters indicated plans to consolidate their recent gains before advancing further into the city.

Civilians flee amid harsh winter

The fighting has displaced nearly 50,000 people, according to the United Nations. The ongoing exodus, coupled with winter’s onset, has raised international humanitarian concerns. Hundreds have died, most of them combatants, during the week-long offensive.

Residents of Aleppo, Syria’s second-largest city, recounted the chaos as the rebels launched their assault last week. “There were terrible traffic jams — it took people 13 to 15 hours to reach Homs,” said one resident, describing the panic and fear gripping civilians.

Assad’s Regional Standing

Despite the renewed violence, Assad’s diplomatic standing in the Arab world has improved in recent years.

Once isolated, Syria was reinstated into the Arab League in 2023, signaling a slow reintegration. Yet, the government’s losses in Hama have drawn concern from Egypt, Jordan, and Gulf Arab states, underlining the stakes of the ongoing conflict.