Fast forward to 2011, Hama once again became a center of opposition during the Arab Spring-inspired protests against Hafez Assad’s son, President Bashar Assad.
For a brief period, government forces withdrew from the city, giving protesters a rare taste of freedom. Residents painted walls red, poured red paint over the city’s famous waterwheels, and used chants like “Erhal ya Bashar” (“Leave, Bashar”) to commemorate the 1982 massacre.
However, the government responded with a brutal counterassault in August 2012, regaining control of the city at the cost of significant casualties. The crackdown further solidified Hama’s place as a symbol of defiance and suffering.
In a striking turn of events, Islamist insurgents have now taken control of Hama. Fighters tore down images of Bashar Assad and stormed government buildings in scenes that would have been unthinkable decades ago.
Abu Mohammed al-Golani, a prominent rebel leader, declared in a video message that insurgents had arrived in Hama to “heal the wound that has bled for 40 years.” Their first actions included freeing prisoners from the city’s central prison, further emphasizing the symbolic importance of the capture.
Hama’s strategic location makes its capture a significant development in Syria’s civil war.
“If rebels seize Homs after Hama, they could cut off Damascus from the coast, isolating Assad’s base and severing critical supply lines,” said Aron Lund, a Syria expert at Century International.
The fall of Hama follows the recent capture of Aleppo, Syria’s largest city, and could significantly shift the momentum in the civil war.
Rebel advances in Hama and potentially Homs could embolden Assad’s opponents while weakening the morale of his supporters. The stakes are high, as control over these cities would mark a turning point in the conflict.
Hama’s dark past continues to cast a shadow over Syria’s future, symbolizing both the enduring wounds of its people and the potential for transformative change in the nation’s ongoing struggle.