BEIRUT (AP) — More than four decades after the Hama Massacre, which saw between 10,000 to 40,000 people killed or disappeared in a government attack on the central Syrian city, Islamist insurgents have now captured Hama. The city, which was previously a stronghold of Syria’s Muslim Brotherhood, has seen scenes unimaginable 40 years ago, with insurgents tearing down a poster of President Bashar Assad and swarming security and government offices.
Hama has a dark history, with the memory of the government assault and monthlong siege remaining vivid in Syrian and Arab minds. The massacre created resentment that led to another uprising against Hafez Assad’s son years later, with the city becoming the epicenter of protests against Bashar Assad in 2011 during the Syrian civil war.
The fall of Hama holds significant strategic importance in Syria, serving as a major intersection that links the country’s center with the north, east, and coast. Assad’s enemies are encouraged while his supporters are discouraged by this development, especially after the recent fall of Aleppo. Analysts note that the insurgents’ next target is the central province of Homs, which would be a game-changer if it falls into rebel hands.
Rifaat Assad, who led the assault on Hama in 1982, has been indicted for war crimes and crimes against humanity in connection with the massacre. The recent capture of Hama by insurgents marks a symbolic moment in Syria’s ongoing conflict, with the city playing a key role in shaping the country’s history and political landscape.
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