In just a few days, a patchwork of rebel forces has seized control of a broad stretch of land in the west and northwest of Syria. But it’s unclear just how much support Syria’s weakened allies can provide.

The Syrian government is denying reports that rebel fighters are advancing in Hama after taking over most of Aleppo province.

Syrian rebels advanced toward Hama on December 1 as regime forces “sent large reinforcement” to the governorate, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported.Rebel forces captured the towns of Kafr Zita,