Islamist rebels seize strategic city of Hama from Syrian regime forces

Islamist insurgents have seized the Syrian city of Hama, a vital location on the road to Damascus, marking the latest challenge to Bashar al-Assad's control of the country.

- Guardian international staff

Militants led by the group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) entered the city from the east on Thursday after surrounding it during five days of fighting with forces loyal to Assad.

Video circulating online showed the insurgents had captured a military airport outside Hama, and released prisoners held in a feared state detention facility.

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

As night fell, militant representatives said they had "fully established control over the city of Hama," and called on police and militias in the city to defect.

"This victory will be without revenge and merciful," said the leader of HTS, Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, in a message to the people of Hama.

The insurgents said they were ready to march south towards Homs, a key crossroads city that links the capital Damascus to the north and to the coast.