In Syria, the rebels captured the city of Hama and are advancing towards the capital, Svit

The rebels said they were preparing to continue their march south.

Syrian rebels captured the key city of Hama on Thursday, December 5, after a lightning advance in northern Syria, dealing a new blow to the government forces of President Bashar al-Assad and his Russian and Iranian allies.

This is reported by the Reuters agency.

Assad's army spokesmen said government troops had been redeployed outside the city “to preserve the lives of civilians and prevent fighting in the city” after intense fighting.

Rebels said they were preparing to continue their march south to Homs, a major city at the crossroads of roads linking the capital Damascus to the north and the coast. In social networks, they appealed to the residents of Homs to join the overthrow of the Assad regime.

The city of Hama lies about a third of the way…