Syrian rebels reportedly entered the city centre of Hama on Thursday after advancing on the city's outer neighbourhoods in the morning.
Hasan Abdul Ghani, spokesperson for the Fatah Mubin operations room coordinating the rebel advance on X that parts of the city had been "liberated" and that clashes with the regime were ongoing in other parts of the city.
°®Âþµº's affiliate Syria TV footage posted to social media showing rebels inside the city's Arbaeen neighbourhood.
Ghani also that the rebels had entered Hama Central Prison, freeing hundreds of prisoners in the process.
Rebels had launched their effort to storm the city in the morning, with Ghani that the rebels "are making progress on several fronts inside the city of Hama and towards the city centre."
He added that "fierce battles" were taking place against the regime.
The storming of Hama city comes after days of fighting in Hama province, with rebels making pushes east and west of the city.
Heavy fighting was also reported around the Zain Al Abideen mountain at the northern entrance to the city, with regime and Russian aircraft conducting airstrikes in the northern Hama countryside.
Rebels also took control of the 66th brigade in the eastern Hama countryside, according to sources speaking to °®Âþµº's affiliate Syria TV.
As rebels attempt to seize Hama, Iran is reportedly sending the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Quds Force general Javad Ghaffari to provide assistance to the regime. Ghaffari previously commanded Quds Force soldiers and Iranian-backed militias in the country between 2016 and 2021.
Meanwhile in Aleppo, the leadership of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the hardline Islamist group leading the opposition advances, is reportedly preparing to hand over control of the city to a transitional body, with armed fighters leaving the city to civilian administrators, according to Crisis Group.
The move comes as the prices of basic goods in Aleppo have increased sharply following the quick capture of the city by rebels. According to opposition outlet Enab Baladi, the price of sugar has doubled in the city, with dramatic rise in the prices of bread, rice and oil also recorded.
Meanwhile, the Turkish defence ministry issued a statement accusing the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) of posing a threat to the country's unity, according to reports from state news agency Anadolu.
The ministry also reiterated Turkey's commitment to fighting what it called "terrorism". The Turkish state considers Kurdish groups that are part of the SDF, namely the YPG, as extensions of the PKK which it has labelled a terrorist group.
"These issues reflect unresolved internal dynamics in Syria, stemming from the regime's failure to address opposition demands," the ministry added.