Syria's president Bashar al-Assad is confronting the biggest challenge to his rule in years. In just a few days, opposition fighters have made significant gains. Now they say they've reached another important milestone, on the way to the capital Damascus. The fighters say they've entered Hama and that government troops have withdrawn from their positions. The government has rejected those claims, and says its troops are ready to repel any attack. Syria's President has vowed to defeat what he called “terrorists and their supporters”. Assad has been speaking to the leaders of the United Arab Emirates and Iraq.