Syrian rebels capture key city of Hama

Syrian rebels captured the key city of Hama today, bringing the rebels a major victory after a lightning advance across northern Syria. After capturing Hama, rebels said they were preparing to keep marching south towards Homs, a city that links the capital Damascus to the north and the coast. 

The Syrian army said it was redeploying outside the city to preserve civilians’ lives and prevent urban combat after what



it called intense clashes. Fighting has raged around villages outside Hama for two days. The rebels took the main northern city of Aleppo last week and have since pushed south from their enclave in northwest Syria. 

Meanwhile, German news agency DPA reported that award-winning Syrian photographer Anas Alkharboutli was killed in one of the airstrikes on Hama.