The Syrian army confirmed that rebel forces had entered Hama after intense clashes, forcing units to move outside the city "to preserve the lives of peaceful residents and prevent urban fighting," the BBC reported.
Earlier, the Syrian military dismissed rebel reports that they had managed to enter Hama, one of Syria's largest cities, on Thursday.
Hama remained in government hands throughout the civil war. The fall of the city will shock Damascus and Assad's Russian and Iranian allies, Reuters commented.
Hama is a third of the way from Aleppo to Damascus, and the city's capture opens the way to another major city, Homs, which is at the crossroads of Syria's most populous regions.
