Authorities forces introduced their withdrawal from Hama on Thursday amid a jihadi offensive
Footage has appeared on-line exhibiting militants from the terrorist group Hayat Tahrir-al-Sham (HTS) making their method into the Syrian metropolis of Hama, after it was deserted by authorities forces.
The Syrian navy introduced its withdrawal from Hama on Thursday amid a shock offensive by the jihadists. It stated that after a number of days of “fierce battles” a call was made to retreat so as “to protect the lives of civilians” and to not contain them within the preventing. Based on the navy, the militants suffered “heavy losses” of their advance on the town.
Within the video, which was uploaded on-line on Friday, quite a few pickup vans and bikes with members of HTS, beforehand often called Jabhat al-Nusra, may be seen driving alongside the streets of Hama.
Gunshots are heard within the background because the terrorists look like celebrating the seize of the town by firing into the air.
The footage additionally exhibits at the least one armored car, deserted by authorities forces, and a destroyed navy truck.
Some locals have been filmed cheering and waving to the militants as they drove by.
Hama, which has a inhabitants of just below one million, is strategically positioned in central Syria on the Aleppo-Damascus freeway, about 200km north of the capital Damascus, and a few 50km from one other key metropolis, Homs.
The terrorists launched their assault from the northern province of Idlib final week, taking the Syrian navy unexpectedly and swiftly seizing management of the nation’s second largest metropolis, Aleppo, whereas advancing in different areas.
The Russian navy, which has been aiding Damascus since 2015, beforehand reported conducting strikes on HTS positions, which it claimed had killed a whole lot of militants. Moscow is analyzing the scenario to find out the extent of help that Syria must take care of the jihadi offensive, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated on Thursday.
The UN stated on Friday that round 280,000 folks have been displaced for the reason that launch of the terrorist advance. Samer AbdelJaber, who heads emergency coordination on the UN’s World Meals Program (WFP), warned that the variety of refugees might ultimately attain 1.5 million.
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