Syrian armed forces and opposition fighters engage in combat to the north of Hama

Intense airstrikes overnight pushed Syrian rebels back from the outskirts of Hama, a significant city whose capture would increase pressure on President Bashar al-Assad, according to both parties on Wednesday.

Over the past week, rebels have made rapid gains, capturing Syria‘s second-largest city, Aleppo, along with much of the surrounding area, coming within a few kilometers of Hama by Tuesday.

The swift nature of their offensive has raised alarms among Assad’s allies, with Iran indicating on Tuesday that it might consider deploying forces if requested, while Russia called for an immediate end to the “terrorist aggression” against Syria.

Iranian-backed Iraqi fighters have entered Syria to support Assad, whose government has initiated a new conscription effort, with checkpoints in Damascus and eastern Deir al-Zor registering young men for military service, according to local residents.

State media and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported fierce clashes over Jabal Zain al-Abidin, a hill located 5 kilometers (3 miles) northeast of Hama, which overlooks a key route into the city.

Abu al-Qaqaa, a rebel commander in the region, stated, “We had to pull back due to heavy enemy airstrikes.” Another rebel source noted that the inability to secure Jabal Zain al-Abidin represented a setback in their advance toward Hama.

Militia groups backed by Iran have bolstered the government’s defenses in Hama, where army units have regrouped following their loss in Aleppo, according to sources from both the rebels and the army. Syrian state media reported the arrival of reinforcements on Tuesday.

Recent days have seen an escalation in Russian and government bombardments of the rebel-held enclave in northwest Syria, with airstrikes reportedly hitting residential neighborhoods and medical facilities in Aleppo and Idlib, according to accounts from residents and rescue workers.

Reuters was unable to obtain immediate comments from Syrian officials. The government in Damascus typically refrains from addressing specific claims but has previously asserted that it does not target civilians, suggesting that allegations against its military are part of a broader campaign to undermine Syria’s stability.

Residents who had returned to areas reclaimed by rebels after fleeing earlier government offensives are once again being displaced due to intense airstrikes, as reported by two individuals in the northwest.

The resurgence of conflict in Syria poses a significant risk of further destabilization in a region already affected by ongoing tensions in Gaza and Lebanon. Since the conflict began in 2011, which drew in various regional and global powers and empowered jihadist groups, the situation has led to the deaths of hundreds of thousands and the displacement of millions, both internally and as refugees abroad.

As of 2020, the country remains divided, with President Assad controlling the majority of territory, supported by Russian airstrikes and a coalition of Iran-backed militias, including Hezbollah from Lebanon. Meanwhile, rebels maintain a substantial enclave in the northwest, Turkish forces occupy a strip along the northern border, and a U.S.-backed, Kurdish-led coalition operates in the northeast.

The recent advances by rebels occurred while Russia’s attention was diverted to the conflict in Ukraine and Hezbollah faced significant losses in its confrontation with Israel in Lebanon.