In the city of Hama, one of the largest in Syria, there are fierce battles between the Islamist rebels who are invading the city and the government forces. The Islamists say they have reached the city’s downtown area.
The Islamist organization Hayat Tahrir al-Sham has taken over large areas of Syria during the week. The fall of Hama could mean that the Syrian regime begins to fall, estimates the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a human rights organization that follows the country’s civil war.
Russia, a strong supporter of the administration, says it will monitor the situation. Russia has not announced that it will send reinforcements to the Syrian government.
Sources: AP, Reuters