The situation in Syria is growing increasingly explosive. The Syrian army is faltering as rebels rapidly take control of city after city, with the significant fall of Homs now leading their charge towards Damascus. Reports suggest that rebel forces have already captured Damascus. Rebel commanders with their artillery and equipment have reportedly reached the city. Local citizens claim fierce battles are ongoing at various locations, with gunfire echoing across the land.
According to Reuters, President Bashar al-Assad has boarded a special aircraft, departing to an undisclosed location.
Meanwhile, chaos and panic engulf Damascus International Airport as Assad's loyalists, fearing the loss of power, scramble to flee the country.
Following the capture of cities such as Hama, Aleppo, and Daraa, Homs becomes the fourth notable city to fall under rebel control. Video footage depicting the takeover tells the story vividly, showing rebels celebrating the conquest of Homs and engaging in gunfire against government forces.
Rebels Celebrate with Gunfire
Thousands of Homs residents flooded the streets, chanting "Assad is gone, Homs is free" and "Long live Syria, down with Bashar al-Assad." In celebration, rebels fired into the air, while spirited youths tore down posters of the Syrian president. According to the Associated Press, Bashar Assad, a ruler for 24 years, was nowhere to be found as opposition fighters reached the capital’s suburbs.
The Fall of Homs: A Blow to Assad and Russia
Rebels have now claimed four major cities with their relentless gunfire in Homs, likely the greatest setback for Assad. The rebels are now advancing towards Damascus.
Strategically located between Syria's coastal provinces of Latakia and Tartus, Homs links Damascus with the Mediterranean coast, a crucial route now severed under rebel control. This loss disrupts connections with coastal areas primarily occupied by Assad's Alawite community, and home to Russia's major naval base.
Government Holds Only Three Provincial Capitals
Around Damascus, rebel activities are increasing. Following the Syrian army's withdrawal from the southern regions, rebels have taken control over several areas including provincial capitals. For the first time in the prolonged civil war, the government now retains control over only three of the 14 provincial capitals: Damascus, Latakia, and Tartus.
Essential Commodities Shortage in Markets
Damascus residents are stocking up on essential food items, while thousands more are making their way to the Syrian border with Lebanon, hoping to escape. One resident informed the Associated Press of store closures and scarcity of essentials like sugar, with open stores charging up to triple the normal prices. "The situation is unusual and quite unsettling," remarked one individual, as fear of retribution looms over the people.
Assad’s Departure is Imminent
Anti-Assad protests erupted in many Damascus suburbs, with demonstrators dismantling symbols of Assad’s rule. Eyewitnesses report some soldiers abandoning their uniforms to join protesters. The rebel army is now within 30 kilometers of the capital, tightening its grip on the regime’s power. Foreign officials, on the condition of anonymity, suggest Assad's government might collapse within days, with an American official estimating a timeline of five to ten days, while another speculated Assad could be ousted within a week.
A civil conflict ignited in 2011 had failed to put Homs in rebel hands, until now. Three major cities in Syria are now under rebel control, with Damascus as their next target. Rebel faction Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) appears ominously determined, as clashes between Syrian forces and rebel groups emerged on November 27.
On December 1, rebels seized northern Aleppo, and four days later, overtook the significant city of Hama. After claiming southern Daraa, rebels now encircle Damascus from two directions. Clearly, Syria's conditions are dire. On late Friday, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs issued travel advisories for Syria and guidelines for Indian nationals residing there.
