Syrian Rebels Take Fourth City, Advancing Closer to Homs

Photo : AFP

Rebel fighters have taken control of the southern city of Daraa on Saturday. This is the fourth major city that President Bashar al-Assad’s army has lost in just one week. Daraa is very important because it is the place where protests against Assad began in 2011.

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Reports say that the Syrian army has agreed to leave Daraa under a deal. This deal allows Syrian soldiers to travel safely to Damascus, the capital city. Videos shared on social media show rebels celebrating in Daraa’s main square. Some people were seen firing shots into the air to show their happiness.

The Syrian military and government have not yet given any official response to this. It is also not confirmed by other sources.

Daraa is the main city in a province with about 1 million people. Before the civil war started 13 years ago, it had a population of more than 100,000 people.

Now, the rebels are focusing on taking control of another key city called Homs. Homs is very important because it connects Damascus to the Mediterranean Sea. If the rebels capture Homs, they will stop Assad’s forces from having control over the coastal areas and Russian military bases nearby.

The rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) has shared messages on a chat app saying they have captured the last village near Homs. They are now very close to entering the city itself. HTS has also urged Assad’s soldiers to leave their posts and join their side to stop the fighting.

Thousands of people are fleeing from Homs because of the fighting. Many are moving toward the Syrian coast, to areas like Latakia and Tartus, which are considered safer.

Reports also say that a group of Syrian Kurdish fighters, supported by the United States, captured a key area called Deir el-Zor in eastern Syria. This shows that the fighting is spreading in different areas.

The rebels have made quick progress in recent weeks. They captured two important cities, Aleppo and Hama, as part of their attack that began on November 27.

In the east of Syria, the Islamic State (IS) group is returning to certain areas. This has added more pressure on Assad’s army, which is already struggling to defend its key cities.

On Friday, Syrian and Russian warplanes attacked areas where the rebels are active. Reports say at least 200 rebels were killed during these airstrikes in the countryside of Hama, Idlib, and Aleppo. Iranian-backed Hezbollah fighters have moved to support Assad’s forces in the area near Homs.

Despite these attacks, the rebels continue their progress. Reports say dozens of rebels were killed in Friday’s attacks, and fighting continues in the region.

Russia and Jordan have warned their citizens to leave Syria because the situation is becoming very dangerous.

The United Nations reported that more than 305,000 people have died in Syria since the civil war started in 2011.

Even though Assad has regained control of most areas with help from Russia, Iran, and other allies, these groups are now facing other challenges. This has allowed the rebels to fight back and make progress.

Iran has also started to pull some of its soldiers and military members out of Syria. This is because Iran has other problems, like tensions with Israel, to deal with at the same time.

The leader of the rebel group HTS, Abu Mohammed Al-Golani, has made claims that the rebels could end Assad’s rule. This shows the rebels’ growing confidence as they take control of more cities and key areas.

The situation in Syria is very uncertain and continues to change. Fighting will likely continue as the rebels and Assad’s government battle for control of the country.