Rebel forces seized control of the southern Syrian city of Daraa on Saturday. This city is the birthplace of the 2011 uprising against President Bashar al-Assad. It marks a significant loss for Assad forces within a week.
The Syrian rebels announced that an agreement had been reached with the army for their withdrawal from Daraa, allowing safe passage to Damascus, approximately 100 km (60 miles) to the north. Viral videos on social media show rebels on motorcycles engaging with locals, celebrating with gunfire at the city's main square.
Despite the rebels' claims, there has been no immediate response from the Syrian army or Assad's government regarding Daraa's capture. Positioned near the Jordanian border, this city holds symbolic significance as the starting point of the uprising against Assad over a decade ago.
Syrian rebels approach the edge of Homs
Earlier, Syrian rebels claimed a late-night advance to the outskirts of Homs. Securing this strategically located city could sever Damascus from the Alawite stronghold and Russian bases. The rebel factions announced, 'Our forces have seized the last village on Homs' outskirts and now control the city walls.'
In the insurgent factions, the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) urged the Assad-loyal forces in Homs to join them. On Friday, US-backed Kurdish-led rebels captured Assad's eastern desert fortress, Deir al-Zor, while also advancing on Aleppo and Hama. Syrian State TV reported Friday airstrikes by Russian-Syrian forces targeting rebel headquarters in rural Hama, Idlib, and Aleppo, reportedly killing at least 200 insurgents.
Hezbollah deploys fighters to safeguard Homs
A source from the Syrian army confirmed the deployment of Iran-backed Hezbollah troops to fortify government positions in Homs. Senior Lebanese security officials reported Friday that Hezbollah fighters were dispatched to the area to assist Assad's forces against rebel advances. According to Syrian state media, operations involving Syrian and Russian air forces, artillery, and armored vehicles resulted in numerous casualties among rebels in the rural areas of Homs.
The United Nations’ human rights office stated in 2022 that over 305,000 people had been killed in the Syrian conflict from 2011 to 2021. With full backing from allies like Russia, Iran, and Lebanon’s Hezbollah, Assad’s forces have regained control over most of Syria. However, recent disruptions have left these allies less powerful, giving Sunni Muslim rebels a chance to regroup and attack again.
