Fierce fighting broke out today between the Syrian army and a coalition of rebels led by radical Islamists, who are trying to advance towards the strategically important city of Hama, in the province of the same name in the center of the country, reports the non-governmental organization Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
Rebels launched a blitz offensive last Sunday to capture Aleppo, Syria's second-largest city in the north of the country, over which government forces have completely lost control for the first time since the civil war began in 2011.
"Fierce fighting is taking place in the north of Hama province" as Russian and Syrian air forces carry out dozens of strikes on rebel positions, the Observatory said.
The rebels managed to take control of several towns and villages in the Hama area, the Observatory added.
A French press photographer saw dozens of abandoned tanks and military vehicles of the Syrian army on the road leading to Hama this morning.
The Syrian army announced that it had sent reinforcements to the area, which had succeeded in slowing the rebel advance over the past two days.
According to the Syrian Ministry of Defense, heavy fighting took place yesterday between the army, supported by Syrian and Russian airstrikes, and "terrorist organizations" north of Hama province.
A fighter in the ranks of the rebels told France Press that they are advancing towards Hama, having previously "cleared the places leading to it".
Hama is a strategically important city in the center of Syria on the road connecting Aleppo with the capital Damascus.
The surroundings of the city are populated by Alawites, the community from which Syrian President Bashar al-Assad originates, Rami Abdel Rahman, director of the Observatory, told AFP.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres yesterday expressed his concern over the recent escalation of violence in Syria and called for an immediate end to hostilities.
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