Hama [Syria]: Rebel forces in northwestern Syria, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), have launched a major offensive, capturing the city of Aleppo and advancing toward Hama in a surprise escalation of the prolonged Syrian conflict, Al Jazeera reported on Sunday. This marks one of the most dramatic shifts in the war since 2020, as front lines had largely remained static in recent years.
The sudden rebel assault, now in its fifth day, has triggered intense counterattacks and airstrikes by Syrian and Russian forces. Opposition-held areas in Idlib and Aleppo are experiencing heightened violence, raising concerns about civilian safety and mass displacement.
Syrian state news agency SANA reported that government forces, led by President Bashar al-Assad, are bolstering defenses in northern Hama. Heavy equipment and rocket launchers are being deployed as government troops reportedly repel rebel advances in certain regions.
The United Nations Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, called for immediate political dialogue, warning that the escalating violence endangers civilians and poses broader risks to regional and international stability.
“The latest developments pose severe risks to civilians and have serious implications for regional and international peace and security,” Pedersen stated.
HTS, formerly affiliated with al-Qaeda and still designated as a terrorist organization by Syria, Russia, and the United States, has emerged as the most powerful opposition faction in northwestern Syria. Since Friday, HTS-led forces have captured several strategic locations, including Khansir, Aleppo Industrial City, the military academy, and the field artillery college, forcing government troops to retreat from Aleppo—a city of over two million people.
President Assad responded to the offensive in his first public comments, vowing to defend Syria’s “stability and territorial integrity” and declaring that the government would overcome the attacks despite their intensity.
Meanwhile, clashes between rebel forces and government troops continue near Hama, with control over villages and towns shifting rapidly. Rebel forces are reportedly on the outskirts of the city.
Syrian government airstrikes have targeted rebel strongholds and weapon depots. However, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based war monitor, reported that Russian airstrikes on displacement camps killed eight civilians and injured 50 others. The Syrian Civil Defence also documented attacks on Aleppo University Hospital, though the casualty figures remain unclear.
This escalation has worsened Syria’s displacement crisis, already one of the largest globally. Thousands more have been forced to flee their homes in recent days as the conflict intensifies.