Hafez al-Assad statue in Syria's Hama province destroyed by public

By Anadolu staff

HAMA, Syria (AA) - The statue of Hafez al-Assad, the father of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, was brought down on Friday by the public in Syria's Hama province.

In February 1982, then-President Hafez al-Assad launched a large-scale military operation against the Muslim Brotherhood, resulting in a massacre that killed at least 30,000 civilians.

At least 17,000 civilians detained by the regime remain missing.

The massacre also destroyed 88 mosques, three churches, and numerous historical sites.

- Developments in Syria

Clashes between Syrian regime forces and anti-regime groups first erupted on Nov. 27 in the western countryside of Aleppo.

By Nov. 30, the opposition forces had taken control of most of Aleppo’s city center and established dominance across Idlib province.

On Dec. 5, following intense fighting, anti-regime forces captured the city center of Hama from regime control.

Meanwhile, on Dec. 1, the opposition Syrian National Army launched Operation Dawn of Freedom against the PKK/YPG terror group in the Tel Rifaat district of Aleppo's countryside, liberating the area from terrorist elements.

*Writing by Muhammed Enes Calli