The situation in the Syrian province of Hama continues to escalate: militants from the terrorist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS, banned in Russia – editor’s note) have begun to encircle the strategically important city. This became possible despite the successful transfer of Syrian troops to the region, which, however, did not stop the terrorists from advancing from the west and east.

According to military sources, the terrorists are attempting to encircle Hama, but instead of frontal attacks, they are most likely counting on a strategic blockade of the city. Thus, the militants can hope for the surrender of the Syrian government forces or their gradual retreat, which will help avoid a direct clash. At the moment, it is known that the terrorists control the approaches to the city from two sides, which creates a threat of its complete isolation.

Despite the presence of Syrian troops who are strengthening the city's defense, the militants continue to operate actively, which indicates a well-organized and targeted operation. This suggests that HTS not only uses its numerical superiority, but also relies on psychological pressure. Moreover, the militants actively use drones, which does not allow the SAA to quickly respond to rapid terrorist attacks.