Islamist rebels are gaining more territory, putting immense pressure on the Assad regime; Israel and the US are closely monitoring the situation.

The Syrian city of Hama was captured by anti-Assad rebel forces on Thursday, signifying a major development in the 13-year civil war. The swift rebel advances, including the capture of Aleppo, caught many off guard.

At the Pentagon briefing on Thursday, Maj. Gen. Patrick Ryder acknowledged the destabilizing effects of the developments in Syria but emphasized that the U.S. has no involvement in the ongoing fighting.

Ryder urged all parties to de-escalate in order to safeguard the rights of minorities in the region.

The U.S. is aware of the potential for further death and destruction in Syria but is not actively involved in the conflict. Approximately 900 American soldiers are in Syria as part of a mission to defeat the Islamic State.

For four years, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), led by Abu Mohammed al-Golani, had been planning the surprise attack on Assad's forces.

The Nusra Front, which was once Syria's most powerful rebel faction, evolved into HTS and claimed to sever ties with al Qaeda in 2016. HTS now controls much of northwest Syria and has led recent advances against Assad's forces. The U.S. and other nations have designated HTS as a terrorist organization.

Abu Mohammed al-Golani emphasized the escalating regional tensions and advised Iran-backed militias in Iraq to steer clear.

In a video, Golani urged Iraq's prime minister to prevent Iraq from being drawn into a new war related to the situation in Syria.

The SDF, backed by the U.S., announced measures to combat ISIS's resurgence in Syria on Thursday.

The SDF's media head stated on X, formerly Twitter, that ISIS has recently seized control over significant portions of the Homs and Deir Ezzor desert, seizing numerous cities and strategic positions from the Damascus government forces.

In 2014, ISIS controlled vast swaths of land in Syria and Iraq.

The fall of key Syrian government sites to rebel forces has prompted emergency security meetings among Israeli officials.

Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz and IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi highlighted Israel's readiness to tackle any new threats that may arise near its borders.

The IDF will not tolerate threats near the Israel-Syria border and will take action to eliminate any danger to Israeli civilians, as stated in a statement by the IDF.

According to Israel's Channel 12 news, security officials are worried that rebels may have seized sites linked to Syria's chemical weapons program. Although most of Syria's chemical arsenal was destroyed in 2013 under international agreements, experts caution that undeclared reserves could pose significant risks if obtained by extremist groups.

The dependence of the Assad regime on Russian and Iranian support has weakened due to shifting geopolitical priorities. With Russia occupied with its war in Ukraine and Hezbollah suffering losses in its conflict with Israel, regime forces are becoming increasingly vulnerable. Analysts predict that the fall of Homs, a crucial city south of Hama, could cut Damascus off from its coastal strongholds and indicate a possible regime collapse.

The escalating hostilities in northern and northwestern Syria have resulted in a deepening humanitarian crisis, with thousands displaced and many fleeing from Tel Rifaat to northeast Syria, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

The ongoing violence in Syria has resulted in the displacement of over 280,000 civilians, and experts warn that ISIS and other extremist groups could take advantage of the chaos, posing a threat not only to Syria but to the entire region.

Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this article.