Syria Army Confirms Hama Fall, HTS Warns Iraq, Hezbollah ‘Stands By’ Assad, Russia Vows Military Aid

The Syrian army withdrew from Hama after insurgents breached its defenses in the latest setback for President Bashar al-Assad. The announcement came after rebels said they had entered Hama after three days of intense clashes with government forces on its outskirts. The Syrian army said it redeployed from Hama and took positions outside the city to protect the lives of civilians. The Syrian army said that a number of troops were killed after resisting the insurgents, who relied on suicide attacks to break through the defenses of Hama. Hama is one of the few cities that remained under full government control during Syria’s civil war, which broke out in March 2011. 00:00 – INTRODUCTION 02:37 – SYRIAN REBELS RELEASE VIDEO SAID TO SHOW CAPTURED MILITARY FACILITY NEAR HAMA03:09 – HTS LEADER WARNS IRAQ AGAINST ‘ENTERING SYRIA FURNACE’05:27 -HEZBOLLAH VOWS TO ‘STAND BY SYRIA’S SIDE’ n18oc_world n18oc_crux