- Rebels have captured two key cities and are now advancing towards Homs, Syria’s third-largest city.
- Syrian Army, supported by Russian air force, is conducting operations to counter the rebel advance
- Jordan and Lebanon have closed their border crossings with Syria
- Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan voiced support for the rebels
- Israel’s Defense Forces conducted airstrikes on weapon-smuggling routes near the Syrian-Lebanese border
- United Nations’ World Food Program has warned of a potential humanitarian crisis
- Rumors have surfaced suggesting that President Bashar al-Assad may have fled the country
BEIRUT (Agencies): Syrian rebels, led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), have captured two key cities and are now advancing towards Homs, Syria’s third-largest city.
HTS has declared that its forces have reached the outskirts of Homs and are calling on regime forces to defect.
The Syrian Army, supported by Russian air force, is conducting operations to counter the rebel advance. The army reported an ongoing operation towards Dar al-Kabira, Talbiseh, and al-Rastan in the northern countryside of Homs, aiming to eliminate the terrorist threat. However, HTS claimed significant progress, capturing towns just six miles north of Homs.
The advances come after HTS gained control of Hama, Syria’s fourth-largest city, dealing a major blow to President Bashar al-Assad’s regime. HTS leader, Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, reiterated the goal of overthrowing the current regime.
In response to the escalating violence, Jordan and Lebanon have closed their border crossings with Syria. Jordan’s interior ministry confirmed the closure of the Jaber crossing, while Lebanon’s General Security Directorate announced the closure of all land border crossings except one linking Beirut with Damascus.
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan voiced support for the rebels, stating that “the target, of course, is Damascus.” The foreign ministers of Turkey, Russia, and Iran are set to meet in Qatar to discuss the situation.
Meanwhile, Israel’s Defense Forces conducted airstrikes on weapon-smuggling routes near the Syrian-Lebanese border, targeting Hezbollah’s armament unit. The strikes aim to disrupt the transfer of weapons intended for terrorist activities against Israel.
The United Nations’ World Food Program has warned of a potential humanitarian crisis, estimating that over 280,000 people have been displaced due to the recent escalation.
Amid these developments, rumors have surfaced suggesting that President Bashar al-Assad may have fled the country. While there is no confirmed information, reports indicate that Assad could have sought refuge in Moscow. The situation remains fluid, and the international community is closely monitoring these developments.