Syria regime strikes back against outgunned rebels Rebels close to Syria's central city of Hama are being pounded with bombs and shells as the regime wages a fierce assault to reverse losses in rural areas home to many of its Alawite supporters. The thunder of numerous explosions in a cluster of villages some 25 kilometres northwest of Hama triggered an exodus of hundreds of local residents aboard cars, motorbikes and tractors on Sunday. A natural sound version of an AFPTV report.