Assad

Syrian anti-regime forces encircle the key central city of Hama "from three sides", a war monitor said Thursday, despite a counteroffensive launched by government forces to retain control of the city.

By late Wednesday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said anti-regime fighters had "surrounded Hama city from three sides."

Foreign Ministers gathered for a family photo after the second day sessions of the NATO Foreign Ministers Meeting at NATO headquarters in Brussels.

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan held a phone call with his Egyptian counterpart, Badr Abdelatty, on Wednesday to discuss the latest developments in Syria, according to diplomatic sources, along with a series of NATO meetings in Brussels.

Syrian rebels, including Islamist-led factions, have launched a major offensive against government forces, advancing towards Hama after capturing significant territory in the northwest, including Aleppo. Their campaign, dubbed "Operation Deter the Aggression," aims to displace the Assad regime and reclaim areas held by government forces.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L) speaks with Turkish's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan (C) and Britain's Minister of State Stephen Doughty during a NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Oganization) Foreign Ministers' meeting at the NATO headquarters in Brussels, on Dec. 3, 2024.

Syrian rebels intensified their offensive against the Assad regime, advancing toward Hama City and capturing over 20 towns and villages in the surrounding areas. Among the areas seized were Taybat al-Imam, Halfaya, and Rahbat Khattab, marking significant progress on the western and northern axes of the city.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan emphasized the importance of ensuring that Syria does not become a source of further instability in the region during a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, according to a statement by Türkiye's Communications Directorate.

The Turkish top diplomat has urged the Assad regime to reconcile with the opposition groups to reinstate peace and stability in Syria amid continued advances of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group and allied factions which now control the country's second largest city, Aleppo.

Jihadists and rebels have seized most of Aleppo, Syria’s second-largest city, including its airport, during a lightning assault that left over 320 people dead, a monitoring group reported on Saturday, as the international community voiced concern.

Half of Aleppo is now under the control of jihadists and rebels, with the city’s airport closed and all flights canceled. Panic has gripped the population, ending years of relative calm in northwestern Syria. Meanwhile, Russia has pledged support.

In a surprise operation launched earlier this week, Syrian rebel groups have rapidly advanced towards Aleppo city, marking one of the most significant offensives in years against pro-Assad forces in northwest Syria. The attack, led by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an al-Qaeda offshoot, has resulted in heavy casualties and captured significant territory.