Syrian rebels have claimed control of Daraa, the birthplace of the 2011 uprising against President Bashar al-Assad. The city, situated in southern Syria, marks the fourth key urban centre lost by Assad’s forces in just a week, underlining the escalating threat to his government.
Rebel sources confirmed on Saturday that the military agreed to withdraw from Daraa under a deal ensuring safe passage to Damascus, around 100 km north.
Celebratory gunfire echoed through Daraa’s streets as videos circulated on social media showed rebels riding motorcycles and mingling with jubilant residents.
The Syrian military and Assad's government have yet to comment on the development, and independent verification of the rebels' claim remains unavailable.
Strategic importance of Daraa
Daraa, with a pre-war population exceeding 100,000, holds symbolic and strategic significance as the cradle of the uprising against Assad's regime. Located near the Jordanian border, it serves as the provincial capital of a region home to approximately one million people.
The loss of Daraa follows a week of rapid rebel gains, including the capture of Aleppo, Hama, and Deir el-Zor. On Friday, the insurgents also reported advancing to the outskirts of Homs, a vital city connecting Damascus to Syria’s Mediterranean coastline and a stronghold of Assad’s Alawite minority.
In a statement on Telegram, a coalition of rebel factions led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) announced the liberation of villages on the periphery of Homs. They called on government forces to defect as their fighters reached the city's outskirts.
Residents and witnesses reported mass evacuations from Homs towards Latakia and Tartus, government strongholds along the coast. The rebels' advance towards Homs threatens to sever Damascus' lifeline to the coastal regions, including critical Russian military installations.
Assad regime under siege
The swift rebel offensive has left Assad's forces on the back foot, prompting an intensified response from government allies. Russian and Syrian airstrikes targeted rebel positions in Hama, Idlib, and Aleppo, reportedly killing at least 200 insurgents, according to Syrian state TV.
Meanwhile, Iran-backed Hezbollah forces have been deployed to reinforce government defences around Homs. However, the evacuation of Iranian military officials from Syria, as reported by *The New York Times*, suggests waning Iranian support amid its focus on tensions with Israel.
Experts believe the rebels’ rapid gains have placed the Assad regime in peril. "The government is fighting for its survival," said Aron Lund of the Century Foundation. "The fall of Homs would isolate Damascus and escalate the rebels' momentum."
Rebel forces, long confined to their stronghold in Idlib, have launched their most significant offensive in over a decade. Analysts attribute their resurgence to the weakened state of Assad's allies, particularly Russia and Iran, amid other geopolitical challenges.
The head of HTS, Abu Mohammed Al-Golani, described the operation as a turning point. "This operation broke the enemy," he said in an interview.
The Syrian conflict, which began as a peaceful protest movement in 2011, has left over 305,000 people dead and displaced millions. While Assad once reclaimed most of the country with Russian and Iranian support, the recent setbacks suggest a turbulent phase for his regime.
As the rebels push closer to Homs and Damascus, regional powers, including Russia and Jordan, have urged their nationals to leave Syria, underscoring the intensifying crisis gripping the war-torn nation.
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