The rebel insurgency in Syria continues to surge. On Saturday, rebels announced their entry into the suburbs of the key city of Homs. Indeed, rebels have seized several Syrian regions. Syrian government forces are struggling to maintain control and uphold President Bashar al-Assad's 24-year rule amidst ongoing coup attempts.
Previously, rebels had seized the southern city of Daraa, the birthplace of the 2011 uprising against President Bashar al-Assad. Daraa, Syria's fourth-largest city, has been lost to rebels in the past week despite support from Assad's forces.
United Nations Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, has called for urgent talks in Geneva to secure 'systematic political change.' Meanwhile, Donald Trump has stated that the U.S. should not be involved in the Syrian conflict.
According to Reuters, rebels have also claimed they have begun encircling Damascus, while Syrian government forces deny withdrawing from areas close to the capital. Rebel commander Hassan Abdel Ghani stated, "Our forces have initiated the final phase of surrounding the capital, Damascus."
Denial of President's Departure Rumors
News agency AFP, citing the Defense Ministry, stated, "There is no truth to reports claiming our armed forces have withdrawn from areas in rural Damascus."
According to the BBC, Assad's office also denied rumors of his fleeing the country, dismissing them as false and misleading news. They asserted that Syria's president is fulfilling his duties from Damascus.
Late Friday night, fighting erupted around northern Homs, with government forces deploying reinforcements and conducting intense airstrikes to push back the rebels. However, Reuters reported that by Saturday, rebels had breached security from the north and east, according to sources from Homs, the army, and rebel groups.
Rebels Seize Several Areas
The rebels' advance is part of a significant loss of government control nationwide. Over the last week, rebels captured key cities, including Aleppo to the north, Hama in central Syria, and Deir al-Zor in the east. The southern regions like Quneitra, Daraa, and Sweida have also fallen under rebel control.
In just 24 hours, rebels claimed nearly all of the southwest, reaching within 30 kilometers (20 miles) of Damascus. Government forces were forced to retreat to more secure positions.
Toppled Statue of President's Father
The possibility of renewed unrest in the capital is emerging. According to Reuters, protesters symbolically toppled a statue of President Assad's father in a Damascus suburb, as shown in video footage of the destroyed monument.
The Observatory reported that the attacks that began in Syria last week resulted in the deaths of at least 826 people, mostly combatants, but also included 111 civilians. Meanwhile, the U.N. stated that almost 370,000 people have been displaced by the violence.
U.S. to Keep a Distance
Donald Trump posted on social media, stating that the U.S. should not involve itself in the Syrian conflict, where rebel forces threaten President Bashar al-Assad's government. Syria is problematic, but not our friend, and the U.S. should have no part in it. It's not our fight. Let it play out. Do not get involved."
Hezbollah Sends Fighters to Protect Homs
A Syrian army source stated that Iran-backed Hezbollah forces have been deployed in and around Homs to bolster government security. On Friday, two senior Lebanese security sources reported that Hezbollah dispatched fighters to assist Assad's government in preventing rebels from taking Homs. Syrian state media reported that a joint operation by Syrian and Russian air forces, along with artillery, missiles, and armored vehicles, killed dozens of rebels in rural Homs on Friday.
