On Tuesday, SOHR reported a “massive displacement” from Hama, home to about 1 million people, after rebels reached the outskirts of the city and several civilians were wounded by their shelling.
Waseem, a delivery driver who lives in the city, told AFP: “The sounds were really terrible and the continuous bombing was good to hear.”
But he added: “I will stay at home because I have nowhere else to run.”
SOHR said more than 600 people have been killed, including 107 civilians, and tens of thousands have been displaced since the rebel offensive began last Wednesday.
The United Nations has expressed alarm over the sudden escalation of Syria’s devastating 13-year civil war and warned that the situation is “extremely fragile and dangerous”.
“If we don’t see a de-escalation and a quick transition to a serious political process involving the Syrian parties and key international players, then I fear we will see a deepening of the crisis,” said UN Security Special Envoy Geir Pedersen. Council on Tuesday.
“Syria will be in serious danger of further division, deterioration and destruction.”
