Syrian rebels seize fourth city, close in on Homs in threat to Assad's rule
Syrian Rebels Capture Key Cities #
Syrian rebels seized control of the southern city of Daraa, the birthplace of the 2011 uprising against President Bashar al-Assad. This marks the fourth city his forces lost in a week. The military agreed to an orderly withdrawal from Daraa, securing safe passage to Damascus.
Videos showed rebels celebrating with residents, as gunfire was heard in Daraa’s main square. The city, with its symbolic importance, was a significant loss for Assad’s forces, who surrendered four key centers to insurgents recently.
In parallel, rebels advanced to Homs, a strategic junction between Damascus and the Mediterranean coast. Successfully capturing Homs could sever links between Damascus and Assad’s coastal strongholds, threatening further isolation of the capital. As the rebels approached Homs, thousands fled towards government strongholds in Latakia and Tartus.
Meanwhile, a U.S.-backed alliance led by Syrian Kurdish fighters captured Deir el-Zor, a major government stronghold in the eastern desert. Earlier, rebels captured Aleppo and Hama in a rapid offensive beginning at the end of November.
The east also saw the resurgence of the Islamic State gaining control of areas in eastern Syria. This development posed another threat to Assad’s regime, as it struggled to defend vital positions. “Our forces have liberated the last village on the outskirts of Homs and are now on its walls.”
Russian-Syrian airstrikes targeting rebel strongholds in Hama, Idlib, and Aleppo killed numerous insurgents. Meanwhile, Iran-backed Hezbollah forces bolstered government defenses in Homs. Government air raids killed dozens of rebels in the Homs countryside, utilizing artillery and armored vehicles.
Rebels capturing Homs would fortify a network of strategic positions stretching from Aleppo to Daraa. This move could potentially isolate Assad’s regime seat in Damascus by blocking the northwest route from the capital to the sea.
Both Russia and Jordan urged their nationals to evacuate Syria, noting the swiftest rebel advance since the civil war’s inception. The conflict has claimed over 305,000 lives from 2011 to 2021.
Assad retained control of most of Syria with Russian, Iranian, and Hezbollah support, though recent crises have weakened their influence, allowing militants to strike back. Iran began withdrawing military officials from Syria, hinting at a diminishing ability to support Assad. “This operation broke the enemy,” an insurgent leader proclaimed, reflecting hopes to end Assad’s rule.