Syrian opposition forces led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) captured the strategic city of Hama on December 5, marking a dramatic escalation in the conflict as Israel launched fresh airstrikes along the Lebanese border and Kurdish forces advanced in the east, causing multiple crises for President Bashar al-Assad's government.

The fall of Hama, confirmed by Syrian military officials after initial denials, comes just days after militants retook parts of Aleppo for the first time since 2016. The city's capture is a significant blow to Damascus, as it controls a crucial highway linking Aleppo to the capital.

"The army withdrew from Hama to minimise civilian casualties," a Syrian military spokesman said, as rebel forces reportedly freed hundreds of prisoners from the central jail. The city's loss threatens to cut government supply lines between Syria's most populous regions.

Israeli aircraft meanwhile struck targets near the Syrian-Lebanese border town of Al-Qusayr, hitting the Jousiyeh border crossing, according to Syrian state media. Israel has repeatedly targeted this area, claiming it serves as a weapons supply route for Lebanese Hezbollah forces.

Adding to Damascus's challenges, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) seized the towns of Al-Rasafa and Maadan on the southern bank of the Euphrates in eastern Syria, expanding their control over strategic supply routes to Deir ez-Zor.

Russia and Iran have pledged additional support to Assad's government. At the same time, the United States denied involvement in the rebel advances but criticised Damascus for refusing to engage in political settlement talks.

The escalating situation has prompted Belarus to urge its citizens to immediately evacuate Syria, with its foreign ministry citing a "sharp deterioration in the military-political situation".

The rebel offensive, which began on November 27, involves various Islamist groups, including Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, operating from Idlib Province.

Local sources report widespread internet outages and food supply disruptions in Hama, while international observers warn the city's capture could mark a turning point in Syria's long-running civil war.

Military analysts suggest that while the SDF lacks sufficient forces to capture Deir ez-Zor, they could, with coalition support, move to isolate the city, further challenging Assad's control over eastern Syria.

Earlier on December 4, Russia said it will continue to provide support to President Assad. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Moscow is "actively studying measures needed to stabilise the situation in the region". The statement signals potential deeper involvement in a conflict that Russia had hoped to maintain at arm's length.

Syrian government forces, backed by Russian aerospace support, claim to have eliminated more than 1,600 militants in the past week. Russian forces report conducting precision strikes against terrorist targets in Idlib Province, with their Reconciliation Centre citing the destruction of ammunition depots and armoured vehicles across Idlib, Hama and Aleppo provinces.

Russia maintains an estimated deployment of several thousand troops in Syria, concentrated primarily around its permanent bases in Tartus, home to its only Mediterranean naval facility, and the Hmeimim air base near Latakia. These strategic installations, established during Moscow's 2015 intervention that helped turn the tide for Assad's government, serve as the backbone of Russia's military presence in the region.

Earlier on November 30, Iran held public funerals for an estimated 300 of its military who are believed to have died fighting HTS in Syria, Tehran Times reported.  

Mourners, who assembled in northern Tehran, carried General Pourhashemi's coffin, draped with the Iranian flag, on their shoulders.