Syrian rebels celebrated in Hama on Thursday (5 December) after seizing the city during their week-long lightning advance across northern Syria, liberating hundreds of inmates in the process.
The Syrian army stated that it had redeployed forces outside the city "to preserve civilian lives and prevent urban combat" following what it described as intense clashes.
After years of being locked in a stalemate along frozen frontlines, the rebels have launched the swiftest battlefield advance by either side since the rebellion against President Bashar al-Assad spiralled into civil war 13 years ago.
The capture of Hama marks a significant victory, granting the rebels control of a key central city that had previously eluded them. Rebel forces announced plans to advance southwards towards Homs, a crucial crossroads city that connects the capital, Damascus, to the north and the coastal regions.
