Militants Seize Control of Major Syrian City
A video has shown militants entering the Syrian city of Hama following its abandonment by government forces. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
Government forces announced their withdrawal from Hama on Thursday amid a jihadi offensive.
Footage circulating online depicts militants from the terrorist group Hayat Tahrir-al-Sham making their way into the Syrian city of Hama following the departure of government troops.
The Syrian military disclosed its withdrawal from Hama on Thursday due to a surprise offensive by jihadists. After several days of “fierce battles,” a decision was made to retreat “to preserve the lives of civilians” and to avoid involving them in the fighting. The military claimed that the militants sustained “heavy losses” during their advance into the city.
A video released online on Friday shows numerous pickup trucks and motorcycles filled with HTS members, formerly known as Jabhat al-Nusra, driving through Hama. The sounds of gunfire are audible in the background as the terrorists appear to celebrate their victory in the city by firing into the air.
The footage also captures at least one armored vehicle left behind by government forces, as well as a destroyed military truck. Some local residents were recorded cheering and waving at the militants as they passed by.
Hama, home to nearly a million residents, is strategically positioned in central Syria along the Aleppo-Damascus highway, approximately 200km north of the capital and around 50km from the significant city of Homs.
The terrorists initiated their attack from the northern province of Idlib last week, catching the Syrian military off guard and quickly taking control of the country’s second-largest city, Aleppo, while making advances in other areas.
The Russian military, which has supported Damascus since 2015, previously reported conducting strikes against HTS positions, asserting that hundreds of militants were killed in these operations. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov indicated on Thursday that Moscow is assessing the situation to determine the level of support Syria requires to tackle the jihadi offensive.
According to the UN, approximately 280,000 individuals have been displaced since the onset of the terrorist advance. Samer AbdelJaber, who oversees emergency coordination at the UN’s World Food Program, cautioned that the number of refugees might ultimately reach 1.5 million.
Lucas Dupont contributed to this report for TROIB News
Footage circulating online depicts militants from the terrorist group Hayat Tahrir-al-Sham making their way into the Syrian city of Hama following the departure of government troops.
The Syrian military disclosed its withdrawal from Hama on Thursday due to a surprise offensive by jihadists. After several days of “fierce battles,” a decision was made to retreat “to preserve the lives of civilians” and to avoid involving them in the fighting. The military claimed that the militants sustained “heavy losses” during their advance into the city.
A video released online on Friday shows numerous pickup trucks and motorcycles filled with HTS members, formerly known as Jabhat al-Nusra, driving through Hama. The sounds of gunfire are audible in the background as the terrorists appear to celebrate their victory in the city by firing into the air.
The footage also captures at least one armored vehicle left behind by government forces, as well as a destroyed military truck. Some local residents were recorded cheering and waving at the militants as they passed by.
Hama, home to nearly a million residents, is strategically positioned in central Syria along the Aleppo-Damascus highway, approximately 200km north of the capital and around 50km from the significant city of Homs.
The terrorists initiated their attack from the northern province of Idlib last week, catching the Syrian military off guard and quickly taking control of the country’s second-largest city, Aleppo, while making advances in other areas.
The Russian military, which has supported Damascus since 2015, previously reported conducting strikes against HTS positions, asserting that hundreds of militants were killed in these operations. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov indicated on Thursday that Moscow is assessing the situation to determine the level of support Syria requires to tackle the jihadi offensive.
According to the UN, approximately 280,000 individuals have been displaced since the onset of the terrorist advance. Samer AbdelJaber, who oversees emergency coordination at the UN’s World Food Program, cautioned that the number of refugees might ultimately reach 1.5 million.
Lucas Dupont contributed to this report for TROIB News
