Government forces, supported by Russian military backing, have been engaged in intense fighting with rebels for control of the strategic city. These clashes are considered the "most violent" since the recent resurgence of the Syrian conflict.

Islamist rebels and their allies were reported to be advancing towards the crucial Syrian city of Hama on Tuesday, as confirmed by the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR).

The militants, primarily from the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group, were engaged in what SOHR described as the "most violent" clashes with Syrian government troops since the surprise offensive was launched the previous week.

According to the SOHR, the fighting intensified in the northern Hama countryside, where rebel factions had recently succeeded in capturing several cities and towns in the last few hours. The SOHR, which relies on a wide network of sources within Syria, noted the escalating violence.

The Associated Press reported that the rebel forces were positioned just 10 kilometers (6 miles) from Hama city, heightening concerns about the situation's severity.

In response, Syrian government forces were reportedly preparing for a counter-offensive, as reported by the Syrian state news agency SANA.

The SOHR further noted that both Syrian and Russian air forces had carried out numerous airstrikes in the area, targeting rebel positions.

Russia, a long-time ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, has been providing substantial military support since the Syrian Civil War erupted in 2011, following Assad's violent crackdown on protests. In 2015, Russia began direct military intervention, including airstrikes, particularly after the extremist group "Islamic State" (IS) entered the conflict.

Additionally, SANA reported airstrikes on Hama province and the rebel stronghold of Idlib in the northwest. Hama holds significant strategic importance, as it serves as a vital link between Aleppo, which HTS had captured the previous week, and the Syrian capital, Damascus.

The region is home to the Alawite community, to which President Assad belongs, meaning that a rebel capture of Hama would present a direct threat to the regime