Over 40 years ago, an event called the Hama Massacre shocked the Arab world. In February 1982, the Syrian president at the time, Hafez Assad, ordered a violent attack on the city of Hama. Thousands of people—estimates range from 10,000 to 40,000—were killed or went missing during this month-long siege. Hama was known for its beautiful waterwheels along the Orontes River, but the name soon became known for the terrible violence that occurred there.
Hama was a stronghold of the Muslim Brotherhood, a group that was against the government. Hafez Assad wanted to stop their protests and ordered warplanes to bomb the city, which was followed by ground troops. His brother, Rifaat Assad, led the attack, earning him the nickname “the Butcher of Hama.” Recently, Rifaat was charged with war crimes related to this attack.
Fast forward to 2011, the Syrian civil war began, which many believe is connected to the events of Hama. Hama became a key place for protests against Hafez Assad’s son, Bashar Assad. During the protests, residents painted parts of the city red, showing their anger over the massacre that happened 30 years earlier. A popular chant in the protests was “Erhal ya Bashar,” meaning “Come on, leave, Bashar!”
In August 2012, government forces returned to Hama and violently attacked the city again, killing many and shutting down the opposition. This sad history makes Hama very important in the ongoing conflict in Syria. Recently, the leader of the Syrian insurgency announced that they had taken back control of Hama, trying to heal the wounds of the past.
Hama is located about 200 kilometers (125 miles) north of Damascus, the capital. It connects different areas of Syria and is important for transporting resources. If insurgents take control of Hama, they could also aim for the city of Homs, which holds strategic value because of its oil refinery and connection to Damascus. Homs’ fall to insurgents could significantly change the situation in the Syrian civil war.
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