Syria: after Hama and Aleppo, Damascus in the crosshairs of jihadists

The Syrian jihadists of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) are trying to strengthen their advantage. The lightning offensive launched from the western province of Idlib on the country's second city, Aleppo, in less than three days, proved to be an incredible encouragement.

HTS troops then immediately headed towards Hama where the Syrian Arab army, dependent on Damascus, had entrenched itself. But, as pointed out at Humanity the geographer Fabrice Balanche, “The ultimate goal of Abu Mohammed Al Jolani, the leader of HTS, is to seize power in Syria.”

“Fierce fights”

After taking possession of the surrounding villages, HTS and its pro-Turkish allies in the Syrian National Army (SNA) surrounded Hama, ready to carry out a siege. But the “fierce fighting” which took place, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (OSDH), pushed Bashar Al Assad's army to retreat further south, towards the city of Homs. “The lock of central Syria, towards Damascus. If they take Homs, they will cut off the capital from the coast, which will put the government in a very bad position.”underlines Fabrice Balanche.

The researcher also points out that the predominantly Sunni city of Hama was not a safe place for the regular army. In February 1982, it was the scene of violent clashes with the Muslim Brotherhood.

The repression of Hafez Al Assad's power had been terrible. “I ask Almighty God that it will be a conquest without vengeance”said Abu Mohammed Al Jolani in a video message.

The Syrian army admitted having lost control of Hama. “Over the past few hours, terrorist groups have been able to break through and enter several fronts in the city”military officials said in a statement, adding that their forces had “redeployed outside the city”.

Fighting that engulfs all of Syria

Homs is only 140 km from Damascus. The highway that joins the two cities is in perfect condition. Yesterday afternoon, the official Syrian agency SANA reported that air defense had shot down two drones “enemies” above the capital. The danger is therefore getting closer. It remains to be seen whether the withdrawal towards Homs is simply tactical or proof of the weakness of the Syrian Arab army.

This no longer benefits from the support – or very little – of seasoned Hezbollah fighters who, in recent months, have returned to Lebanon to try to counter the Israeli invasion. Moscow, which intends to preserve its naval base in the Mediterranean, makes its air force available to Damascus by bombing areas held by the rebels.

Iran and Russia, the main allies of the Syrian government, as well as Turkey, a major supporter of the jihadists and the ANS, are in “close contact” to stabilize the situation, according to Russian diplomacy.

These fighting are setting the whole of Syria ablaze: the Kurdish forces, grouped within the FDS, have mobilized and are expecting an offensive on their western flank led by the Syrian National Army, supported by Ankara. The United States, which has a thousand men in northeast Syria, around oil fields, does not seem unhappy with the situation, while warning of a resurgence of the “Islamic State” group ( IS) in Syria. However, its dormant cells have been waking up for a long time west of the Euphrates.