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2024 Hama offensive

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For other offensives in Hama, see Hama offensive.

2024 Hama offensive
Part of the Northwestern Syria offensive (2024) during the Syrian civil war

Map of the battle in and around Hama city
  Controlled by the Syrian Arab Republic
  Controlled by the Syrian opposition
  Contested/Control undetermined
Date30 November 2024 – ongoing
(4 days)
Location
Hama Governorate, Syria
parts of southern Idlib Governorate, Syria
Status
  • Ongoing
  • Rebels capture multiple towns in northern Hama, including Kafr Zita, Latamneh, and Morek[2]
  • Rebels reach the outskirts of Hama as of 30 November 2024[3]
  • Counteroffensive launched by the Syrian Army on 1 December 2024[4][5]
  • Rebels capture the city of Al-Kabariyya and Karkat in Hama North. Also captured the town of Umm Nir
Belligerents
Syrian Salvation Government
Syrian opposition Syrian Interim Government		  Syrian Arab Republic
 Russia[1]
Commanders and leaders
Abu Mohammad al-Julani Maj. Gen. Suhayl al-Hasan[6]
Syria Brig. Gen. Adi Ghosa †[7]
Units involved

Military Operations Command

Syrian opposition Syrian National Army
National Front for Liberation

Northern Storm Brigade
Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement
Al-Shaheen Brigades

 Syrian Armed Forces

 Russian Armed Forces

Casualties and losses
18+ killed[a] Syria 17+ killed[8]
13+ Iranian-backed fighters[clarification needed] killed
14+ civilians killed [b]

The 2024 Hama offensive is an ongoing military operation launched by forces of the Syrian Salvation Government (SSG) and Turkish-backed[11] rebel groups of the Syrian Interim Government (SIG) during the 2024 Northwestern Syria offensive, a phase of the Syrian Civil War. The operation, which is launched by the Military Operations Command, is taking place in the Hama Governorate.

Background

Main article: Northwestern Syria offensive (2024)

On 27 November 2024, Syrian opposition groups led by Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) launched an offensive on pro-government forces in northwestern Syria. This marked the first major offensive by any faction in the conflict since the March 2020 Idlib ceasefire. The operation resulted in the rapid capture of dozens of villages by opposition forces and a significant weakening of pro-government defenses. This caused people to flee towards various Syrian cities, including Hama.[12]

Battle

On 30 November 2024, rebels took control of several towns, including Taybat al-Imam, Kafr Zita, Latamneh, and Morek.[2]

Opening advances

Consequently, rebel forces approached the outskirts of Hama and started closing in on the city.[3] Meanwhile, pro-government forces began withdrawing from both the city of Hama and its airbase.[13] An unverified photo started circulating around on early 1 December, showing rebel forces entering the Al-Arba'een neighbourhood in Hama city.[14] Al-Jazeera also reported that rebel forces had entered Hama.[15]

Following the rebel advances, the Syrian government sent reinforcements to stop the advancing rebel forces, along with special forces affiliated with Suhayl al-Hasan to strategic locations, including Jabal Zayn al-Abidin, Taybat al-Imam, Qamhana, and Khitab.[6][10]

Government pushback

The next day, the Syrian Army managed to launch a counteroffensive that regained some territory in the Hama province and halted the rebel advance.[5] Russian airstrikes targeted rural parts of Idlib and Hama under rebel control.[1] According to Syrian state news agency SANA, the army overnight pushed back rebels in the northern countryside of Hama Governorate.[10] Both SANA and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights claimed that the Syrian Army succeeded in pushing the rebels back. The Syrian Observatory claimed that the reinforcements formed a "strong defensive line" in the north of Hama.[16] The rebels stated that they would push all the way to Damascus.[17]

On 1 December, as part of the renewed rebel advance into the southern Idlib, seven HTS fighters were killed in Khan Shaykhun by booby-trapped missiles in a former SAA warehouse that was abandoned by retreating government forces in the city.[18]

On 2 December, a rebel drone strike targeting a gathering of pro-government military leaders near Jabal Zayn al-Abidin, north of Hama, caused multiple deaths and injuries among their ranks.[19] By the afternoon, clashes between opposition and pro-government forces intensified in Hama Governorate, particularly near the towns of Karnaz and Suran. In the eastern Hama countryside, opposition forces made advances, capturing the town of Qasr Abu Samrah.[20] In the evening, the heaviest clashes since the start of the offensive took place between opposition and pro-government forces in northern Hama region, with Russian and government aircraft carrying out more than 45 airstrikes. Opposition forces took control of the villages of al-Jubain, Tell Malah, Jalamah, al-Jubain, Breidej, Karnaz and al-Karkat, while pro-government forces were able to thwart attempts to advance on Qalaat al-Madiq.[21][22] Opposition forces' rocket shelling of Hama city killed eight civilians.[23]Clashes also occurred on the frontline in the Al-Ghab Plain, amid a failed HTS offensive where at least ten HTS members were killed attacking SAA positions.[9] On 3 December, opposition continued their advance on the pro-government forces, capturing the towns of Taybat al-Imam, Halfaya, Soran, and Maardis.[24]At least 17 SAA soldiers and 8 HTS fighters were killed in heavy clashes north of Hama. Two civilians were also killed by HTS shelling in the city.[8]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ 8[8]10[9]
  2. ^ 4 by Syrian government airstrikes, 10 by HTS shelling[8][10][8]

References

  1. ^ a b "Russian airstrikes hit north-western Syria as militants reach central Aleppo". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Syrian army withdraws from Hama as rebels push toward Homs". Türkiye Today. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Syrian rebels closing in on city of Hama - report". Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
  4. ^ "Syria launches counterattacks in an attempt to halt insurgents' surprise advance". Washington Post. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  5. ^ a b "Syrian forces regain territory, halt rebel advance in Hama amid heavy fighting". The Siasat Daily. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  6. ^ a b "HTS captures more territory in Northern Hama". Kurdistan 24. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  7. ^ UPDATES: Rebels Reclaim Syria’s Largest City Aleppo, Advancing on Hama
  8. ^ a b c d e "Casualties under shelling by H*T*S on Hama | At least 24 members of regime forces and H*T*S kil*led in clashes near Hama". SOHR. 3 December 2024.
  9. ^ a b "After advancing in Hama | Forces of "Blocking Aggression" operation control a town and five villages in northern Hama". SOHR. 2 December 2024.
  10. ^ a b c "Syria sends in reinforcements to halt insurgents from advancing after seizing Aleppo". ABC News. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  11. ^ "Turkish-Backed Factions Reach Hama's Outskirts in Central Syria". North Press Agency.
  12. ^ "Following withdrawal of Iranian-backed militias and regime forces, Kurdish forces deploy in Aleppo international airport, Nubl and Al-Zahraa and take control of checkpoints". SOHR. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
  13. ^ "Amidst the withdrawal of regime forces from the city of Hama and its military airport, "Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham" continues to advance in its countryside and takes control of new cities and towns" (in Arabic). SOHR. 30 November 2024. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
  14. ^ "המורדים בסוריה נכנסו לעיר חמה . תמונה מרחוב אל-ארבעין) - חדשות רוטר". Rotter.net. Retrieved 2024-11-30.
  15. ^ "Syrian opposition fighters enter the city of Hama". Al-Jazeera. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  16. ^ "Syria: Army sends reinforcements to hold back rebels in Hama". DW News. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  17. ^ Chehayeb, Kareem. "Syria launches counterattacks in an attempt to halt insurgents' surprise advance". AP News. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  18. ^ "Left by regime forces | Seven rebels killed in explosion of booby-trapped missiles in Khan Shaykhoun". SOHR. 1 December 2024.
  19. ^ "Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and factions target a gathering of military leaders from the regime forces north of Hama city" (in Arabic). SOHR. 2 December 2024. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
  20. ^ "After a violent attack by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham and the factions.. Fierce battles in the northern and eastern countryside of Hama, coinciding with air strikes and intensive artillery shelling" (in Arabic). SOHR. 2 December 2024. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
  21. ^ "In the fiercest clashes since the launch of Operation "Deterrence of Aggression", regime forces, with heavy air support, thwart the organization's attempts to advance to strategic points in the northern Hama countryside". SOHR. 2 December 2024. p. Arabic. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
  22. ^ "After making progress in the eastern Hama countryside.. "Deterrence of Aggression" forces control a town and 5 villages in the northern Hama countryside and are trying to control the strategic Qalaat Al-Madiq". SOHR. 2 December 2024. p. Arabic. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
  23. ^ "8 citizens martyred in shelling on Hama city.. The number of martyrs from the shells of the Authority and the factions rises to 12 since the beginning of the "Deterrence of Aggression" operation" (in Arabic). SOHR. 2 December 2024. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
  24. ^ "After the fiercest clashes and intensive aerial bombardment, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and the factions control more cities and towns in the Hama countryside" (in Arabic). SOHR. 3 December 2024. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
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