Syrian city of Hama falls to rebels; Israeli strikes on Gaza camp kill 21

Syrian insurgents entered the central city of Hama on Thursday after days of intense clashes with government forces as they push forward with their week-long offensive that brought large parts of Syria under their control.

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BEIRUT/GAZA STRIP/THE HAGUE:

The Syrian army said it has withdrawn from Hama after insurgents broke through its defenses marking another setback for President Bashar Assad, days after losing the country's largest city. The Syrian army said it redeployed from Hama and took positions outside the city to protect the lives of civilians.

The insurgents' next target is likely to be the central city of Homs, the country's third largest. Homs, which is about 40 kilometers south of Hama, is the gate to the capital Damascus, President Bashar Assad's seat of power as well as the coastal region that is a base of support for him.