Syrian rebels retake Aleppo, then advance to the central part of the country.

The rebels, who have taken back Aleppo, Syria's second-largest city, from government forces in eight years, are advancing to the central part of the country.

The Associated Press and other foreign media reported on the 1st local time that the Islamic rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham took control of major bases in northwestern Aleppo and Idlib province and pushed to the central province of Hama.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a U.K.-based Syrian civil war monitor, also said the rebels were heading to Hama with little resistance as government forces quickly retreated.

He added that the rebel advance has caused significant changes in the region's power structure, including the withdrawal of pro-government militias backed by Iran.

Some have claimed that Syrian government forces have withdrawn from Hama following Aleppo.

However, Syria's defence ministry issued a statement in which it countered that "government forces are stationed in rural areas in northern and eastern Hamaju and are ready to repel potential terrorist attacks."

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad also described the rebels as "terrorists" and vowed to repel their attacks.