Rebels Take Control of City of Hama in Syria

damascus - Syrian government forces lose control of the city of Hama as rebels make significant gains.

Syrian government forces have lost control of the city of Hama as rebels launched a successful offensive. Following intense fighting, rebels have taken over districts of the city, leading to the retreat of military personnel outside the city, according to the army.

The rebels claim to have captured districts of the city and released hundreds of detainees from a prison. The capture of Hama marks a major victory for the rebels who recently initiated an offensive in northwestern Syria, swiftly capturing Aleppo, the country's second-largest city. The government forces retreated from Aleppo as well.

Hama, which had not fallen to rebels during the Syrian civil war, could now pave the way for further advances towards Homs, a crucial junction between Syria's most densely populated regions.

The government forces also reported shooting down two "hostile drones" above the capital, Damascus. The origin of the drones remains unknown, as Damascus has been frequently targeted by Israeli airstrikes.