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00:00Celebration in the streets of Hama as Syrian rebels take control of the city.
00:06Their presence is welcomed by some residents.
00:09We've been waiting for this day for a long time, and we're all coming out to welcome
00:14the free men.
00:15We cheer for them and welcome them into our homes.
00:18This is the happiest day for us.
00:21After Thursday's capture of the strategic town on the road to the south, the various
00:26rebel factions led by the Islamist HTS group say they are now aiming for the capital Damascus.
00:31With God's permission, we will not stop before Damascus.
00:36We will liberate all areas from Assad's militias.
00:40These images, filmed by France 24 a few hours earlier, show the rebels on the offensive,
00:46firing artillery towards Hama.
00:48Some military equipment is left behind by government troops.
00:52Syria's military confirmed the rebels captured Hama.
00:55The country's defense minister said they have temporarily withdrawn.
00:59I affirm that what happened today in the city of Hama is a temporary tactical measure.
01:09Our forces remain positioned around the city of Hama, fully prepared and ready to carry
01:13out their national and constitutional duties.
01:18But on the surrounding country roads, many residents are fleeing on foot or crammed into
01:23vans.
01:24They fear intense clashes.
01:28The sounds we're hearing and what's happening, it's all extremely surreal.
01:31We can't stand it.
01:32So we packed our things and we're heading north until everything calms down.
01:36Then we'll come back.
01:38Tens of thousands of residents are also fleeing en masse from Homs, Syria's third largest
01:44city.
01:45Bashar al-Assad's regime is reportedly strengthening its positions there, according to the Syrian
01:50Observatory for Human Rights.
01:52The UN estimates the fighting has displaced at least 150,000 people.