Syrian opposition surrounds second city

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR, headquartered in the UK) announced on December 4 that opposition military forces had surrounded the city of Hama from three sides and were only 3-4 km away from the city.

AFP reported that Syrian government forces have only one escape route left, towards the southern city of Homs.

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Opposition forces led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) launched a surprise attack on November 27 in the north and quickly took control of Aleppo, Syria's second largest city.

HTS leader Abu Mohammad al-Jolani visited Aleppo's old city, waving to supporters from an open-top car.

Opposition forces launch rockets toward Syrian government forces in the northern suburbs of Hama on December 4.

HTS, formerly known as the Nusra Front, was an offshoot of al-Qaeda and is now considered a terrorist organization by the United Nations Security Council and many countries.

Meanwhile, fighting is intensifying around Hama as the Syrian army, backed by Russia, is pounding rebel positions with airstrikes. The SOHR said government forces had sent a large military convoy to Hama and its suburbs in the past 24 hours. "Dozens of trucks carrying tanks, weapons, ammunition and soldiers are advancing towards the city," the SOHR said.

The town of Suran just north of Hama

Government forces and allied fighters led by Russian and Iranian officers have repelled an attack in northwestern Hama. The fighting took place near an area largely populated by Alawites, an offshoot of Shiite Islam to which President Bashar al-Assad belongs.

"I will stay inside because I have nowhere else to go," delivery driver Wassim in Hama told AFP, saying the sound of the bombs exploding was clear and truly terrifying.

Syrian army tanks abandoned near the town of Suran north of Hama

State and rebel media reported fighting around al-Uwayr and nearby villages after government forces repelled an overnight attack in Jabal Zain al-Abidin, north of Hama, Reuters reported.

The fighting in al-Uwayr is a sign that opposition forces may be advancing into rural areas on the eastern flank of Hama, one of the most important cities and one that has been under government control throughout the civil war since 2011.

President Bashar al-Assad has ordered a 50% pay rise for soldiers and is stepping up recruitment. Iran, a close ally of the Syrian government, has said it could send troops if asked.

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Source: https://thanhnien.vn/quan-doi-lap-syria-vay-thanh-pho-thu-hai-185241205112300409.htm