Damascus, Syria - Recent Syria's air defense systems intercepted two hostile drones over the capital Damascus on Thursday, the Syrian Defense Ministry said. "Our air defense units recently repelled hostile unmanned aircraft in the skies over Damascus and shot down two drones, without any human casualties or material losses," the ministry said in a statement. The statement did not identify who was operating the drones or their intended targets, and there were no immediate claims of responsibility. Sounds of gunfire and explosions were reported in Damascus on Thursday, and more armed security personnel were seen in the city. The incident marks the latest in a series of aerial confrontations in Syrian airspace amid the country's ongoing conflict. Syrian authorities have previously accused Israel of conducting airstrikes and drone attacks against targets within Syria, often aiming at Iranian-backed militias and Hezbollah positions. The situation is coupled with rising tensions following the capture of Hama, Syria’s fourth-largest city, by the militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) on Thursday. The Syrian army confirmed that after intense fighting on multiple fronts, it had redeployed its forces outside Hama, acknowledging that rebels had entered the city. In Damascus, prices of goods surged on Thursday, and some residents began stockpiling supplies. However, most citizens said that they would not leave the capital. As of Thursday evening, the situation in Damascus remained stable. The Damascus International Airport continued operations, and the border crossings between Syria and Lebanon, as well as Syria and Jordan, remained open. Due to reports of conflicts along the route to Jordan, which passes through Syria's southern province of Daraa, many chose to leave via the Syria-Lebanon border. As of late Thursday night, there were no reports of congestion at the border. Shotlist: Damascus, Syria - Recent: 1. Aerial shot of cityscape; 2. Various of traffic; 3. Street, pedestrians, stalls; 4. Bananas and other fruits for sale; Damascus, Syria - Dec 5, 2024 5. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Resident (name not given): "No one will abandon their country. The people who have endured 11 years of war will overcome this crisis."; Damascus, Syria - Recent 6. Various of traffic; Damascus, Syria - Dec 5, 2024 7. Photos of Syria-Lebanon border at night. [Restriction - No Access Chinese Mainland/Orient TV/Syria Alshaab TV/Zanoubia TV/Alhurra TV/ANN TV/Al Jazeera/ Al-Arabiya TV]