AMMAN. Syrian rebels have claimed control of Daraa, the southern city considered the birthplace of the 2011 uprising against President Bashar al-Assad, marking the fourth city his forces have lost within a week.
Rebel sources revealed that a deal facilitated an orderly withdrawal of Assad’s military from Daraa, providing safe passage for army officials to Damascus, located approximately 100 kilometers (60 miles) to the north.
Videos circulating on social media depicted rebels on motorcycles and celebrating residents firing shots into the air in the city’s main square. However, no confirmation from the Syrian military or government has been confirmed, and Reuters has not independently verified the rebels’ claims.
Daraa, with a pre-war population exceeding 100,000, holds symbolic weight as the cradle of Syria’s uprising. The city’s seizure follows the rebels’ rapid advances, which also saw them claim Aleppo, Hama, and Deir el-Zor over the past week.
Rebels have now turned their sights on Homs, a pivotal city in central Syria and a critical crossroads connecting Damascus to Assad’s coastal strongholds. “Our forces have liberated the last village on the outskirts of Homs and are now on its walls,” declared the leading rebel faction on Telegram.
Should Homs fall, it would sever Assad’s access to the Mediterranean coast, home to key Russian military bases and the heartland of Assad’s Alawite sect.
The regime’s forces, supported by Iranian-backed Hezbollah fighters, are reportedly repositioning to bolster defenses near Homs. Meanwhile, state media reported dozens of rebels killed in the countryside by Russian-Syrian airstrikes and artillery.
State TV also highlighted Russian-Syrian strikes on rebel strongholds in Hama, Idlib, and Aleppo, allegedly killing 200 insurgents. However, the rebels’ momentum remains unchecked.
As the offensive intensifies, thousands of civilians are fleeing Homs for government-held coastal regions like Latakia and Tartus, according to residents and witnesses.
Rebel forces, spearheaded by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), appear emboldened after years of stalemates. HTS leader Abu Mohammed Al-Golani told The New York Times, “This operation broke the enemy,” expressing confidence in toppling Assad.
The lightning offensive comes as Assad’s allies—Russia, Iran, and Hezbollah—grapple with their own crises. Iran, preoccupied with escalating tensions with Israel, has reportedly begun evacuating military personnel from Syria, signaling waning support for Assad’s regime.
The potential capture of Homs would consolidate a rebel-controlled corridor from Aleppo in the north to Daraa in the south, encircling Damascus. Aron Lund, a fellow at the Century Foundation, remarked, “Assad’s government is fighting for its life at this point. The speed of the rebel advance is astonishing.”
Syria’s 13-year civil war has claimed over 305,000 lives between 2011 and 2021, according to the United Nations. Despite Assad regaining control of most of Syria in recent years, the latest rebel offensive underscores the fragility of his grip on power.
As the rebels press forward, both Russia and Jordan have advised their nationals to leave Syria, a stark indicator of the escalating conflict’s severity.
The conflict’s outcome remains uncertain, but the rebels’ renewed momentum poses the most significant challenge to Assad’s rule in years.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflorhttps://tutubi.ph/author/venusp/
- Venus L Peñaflorhttps://tutubi.ph/author/venusp/
- Venus L Peñaflorhttps://tutubi.ph/author/venusp/
- Venus L Peñaflorhttps://tutubi.ph/author/venusp/
