London newspaper from inside Hama airport: The fall of the stronghold of terror at the hands of the Syrian opposition

The London-based newspaper Al-Araby Al-Jadeed said that it was able to enter Hama military airport, which is now under the control of the Syrian opposition forces after a pivotal battle yesterday, Thursday, coinciding with their control of the center of Hama Governorate (central).

According to the newspaper, this airport, which has been a source of terror for Syrians for a whole decade, has witnessed the regime’s aircraft take off to bomb populated cities and towns, according to international reports that have proven its involvement in crimes against civilians.

The newspaper documented the first scenes from inside Hama Military Airport, where the photos show a fighter plane parked inside one of the fortified concrete hangars, which was the main launching base for the regime’s raids on Syrian cities and towns.

The scene reflects the strategic importance of this location, as these hangars were centers for aircraft maintenance and supplying them with ammunition before carrying out combat missions. Entering the airport revealed its engineering fortifications, which were designed to secure aircraft and military infrastructure from any potential attacks, in a scene that carries the symbolism of the fall of one of the most important strongholds of the regime in the region.

Hama Airport is located in central Syria, making it a vital logistical hub for the regime, used to transport supplies and troops to the northern (Idlib and Aleppo) and southern (Damascus and its surroundings) fronts. Its proximity to major roads and cities has enhanced its strategic importance throughout the war years.

The airport was a launching base for warplanes and helicopters, which carried out combat and reconnaissance missions in support of the regime's military operations. It also represented a major center for storing ammunition and weapons, and received military support from the regime's allies, especially Iran and Russia.

The airport has reportedly been used to operate drones, including Iranian-made ones, making it an important tool for electronic warfare and reconnaissance. The airport has been attacked several times by the opposition, especially between 2014 and 2017, but has remained under regime control.

Over the years, the airport has been subjected to multiple attacks by the opposition, but it has held out thanks to its strong fortifications and air defense systems deployed around it. However, the opposition was able, as part of Operation “Deterrence of Aggression,” to storm the airport and take control of it, dealing a heavy blow to the regime and changing the balance of power in the region.