Moment former Syrian president's statue toppled in Hama

A statue of the precocious Syrian president, Hafez al-Assad, the begetter of President Bashar al-Assad, has been torn down successful the metropolis of Hama.

Syrian rebels accidental they person taken afloat power of the country's 2nd large city, aft the subject withdrew.

The person of the Islamist militant radical Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), Abu Mohammed al-Jawlani, declared "victory" successful Hama and vowed determination would beryllium "no revenge".

Earlier, HTS fighters and their allies took implicit Hama cardinal situation and released inmates amid fierce battles, portion the subject said it had redeployed troops extracurricular the city.

Hama is location to 1 cardinal radical and is 110km (70 miles) southbound of Aleppo, which the rebels captured past week aft launching a astonishment violative from their stronghold successful the north-west.

In Aleppo, a statue of President Bashar al-Assad's precocious brother, Bassel, was destroyed a fewer days ago.