The opposition is making steady advances in and around Hama. Significant gains have been made on the eastern outskirts of Hama, laying the groundwork to encircle the metropolis. More than two dozen towns and key military sites have been captured in the past two days, with the strategic point of Jabal Zayn al-Abidin in northern Hama falling to opposition forces late in the night.
In eastern Aleppo province, Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) escalated their operations against Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) groups within the Fajr al-Hurriyeh (Dawn of Freedom) operations room. SDF forces are pushing to gain strategic ground, raising concerns over Turkey’s potentially increased involvement in a counteroperation.
Developments in Northern Hama and Eastern Aleppo
Operation Deterring Aggression has continued to make steady progress in northern Hama, capturing a string of new towns from pro-regime forces while expanding their use of UAVs to attack key military sites. In the past two days, operation forces captured more than two dozen towns and strategic locations in and around Hama. Advancing forces also recaptured the town of Khattab, which was captured and then lost to regime forces. Notably, much of this progress has come on the eastern flank of Hama, laying the groundwork for encircling the provincial capital if advances do not let up in the coming days. Additionally, the strategic point of Jabal Zayn al-Abdin in north Hama fell to opposition forces late during the night. Operation Deterring Aggression forces have also issued a statement urging regime-affiliated soldiers to surrender to guarantee their legal protection, warning of consequences for non-compliance after Friday.
Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) are aggressively pushing to take SNA-held parts of eastern rural Aleppo province, and there are growing concerns over a potential escalation with Türkiye’s increased involvement in an SNA counterattack.
Developments in South Syria
Inspired by events in the north-west, local armed actors in the south are stepping up small-scale attacks on regime positions in Daraa and Suwayda. The number of armed attacks and ambushes has been on the rise since Operating Deterring Aggression began on 27th November, with at least 19 operations recorded against regime positions and checkpoints, resulting in 14 deaths and an unknown number of injuries.
