What assets does Syrian President Assad nonetheless must defend his rule? | DW News

Islamist-led rebels in Syria captured the strategically crucial city of Hama on three sides, both the militants and the Syrian government said on Thursday.

"Over the past few hours, with the intensification of confrontations between our soldiers and terrorist groups… these groups were able to breach a number of axes in the city and entered it," the army said, adding that it had withdrawn from the city to prevent urban combat and the civilian death toll asssociated with it.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that the rebels were able to make significant advances in the last 24 hours, despite the government sending "large military convoys to Hama" and the surrounding area. They added that the Syrian army has been joined by Russian and Iranian officers, as both countries have been longtime allies of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

State news agency SANA confirmed that the government was waging "fierce battles" across Hama province, led by "joint Syrian-Russian warplanes."

German news agency DPA said that award-winning Syrian photographer Anas Alkharboutli was killed in one of the airstrikes on Hama.

#Syria #Assad #Hama
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