Chinese embassy advises nationals to leave Syria as security situation deteriorates

The Chinese embassy in Syria on Thursday issued a warning and advised Chinese nationals in Syria to return to China or leave the country as soon as possible as the security situation in Syria further deteriorates in the wake of fighting in its northwestern areas.

Chinese nationals in Syria could evacuate while commercial flights are still in operation or via land border ports, the embassy said. 

It said those who insisted on traveling to Syria or not leaving certain areas "may be exposed to extremely high security risks and affect the effectiveness of assistance."

The central Syrian city of Hama was captured on Thursday by rebel forces led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), days after they seized the country's commercial hub, Aleppo, in a lightning offensive against President Bashar al-Assad's forces. 

The recent escalation in Hama and other regions underscores the intensifying conflict between Syrian government forces and rebel groups, including HTS, which controls parts of northwestern Syria.

(With input from agencies)