The Syrians rebels are now gone only 20 kilometers from the capital Damascusafter bringing the province under their control Secondin the south Syriareported one of their commanders and the non-governmental institution Syrian Observatory for Human rights (OSDH).
THE Ramie Abdel Ramanits director OSDHAFP reported that rebel fighters control the whole her Second“cradle” rebellion 2011 against the regime of Bashar al Assad. One of their commanders, the Hasan Abdel Ganiconfirmed that they are “less than 20 kilometers” from the southern entrance to Damascus.
In addition, according to information, the rebels put under their control and the city of Palmyra in the middle of Syria, from which they also left Assad’s forces.
After his fall Aleppolast week, government forces they collapse across the country at breakneck speed, with insurgents taking over several major cities one after the other and re-emerging in areas where the insurgency had been thought to have died down for years. Beyond Aleppo to the north, the Ham in central Syria and the Dare Easy in the east, the rebels say they have accepted it too Cuneitrathe Second and the Sweden in the south and on towards the capital Damascus.
Government forces having focused on Homs. State television and military sources said airstrikes had been launched against rebel positions and reinforcements were arriving to defend the city.
According to the Observatory, seven civilians were killed from the Syrian and Russian strikes on Homs.
Flash forward
Meanwhile, the rebels are expanding their control over almost all of southwestern Syria and say that they occupied her Sanaman
OR speed with which events occur it has alienated most of the Arab countries and is a new cause of concern for the stability of the region. Qatar said today that it is indeed territorial integrity is threatened of Syria.
The Syrian civil war, which began in 2011, as a rebellion against his regime Assad, create space for jihadists to occupy large areas and launched terrorist attacks around the world, and simultaneously occurring seven million refugees they fled to neighboring countries and major foreign powers established bases in the country.
OR Hezbollah sent 2,000 fighters to Quseir
It is indeed emphasized, simultaneously occurring, that today is Saturday, the Shiite organization of Lebanon hezbollah sent 2,000 fighters as reinforcements for the city of Qusheir, one of its strongholds in Syria, near the border with Lebanon, with the aim of protecting it if attacked by syrian rebels, a source close to the pro-Iranian movement said AFP.
According to this source, Hezbollah sent 2,000 men from Lebanon to the Qusheir region and mountain range that separates Syria from Lebanon.
The lebanese organization, which fought in the past on the side of the government army of Syria, which has not taken part in the fighting that has been going on for the past ten days with the rebels, added the same source.
Hezbollah even sent some “surveillance forces” to Homs, but a larger force would be exposed to Israeli strikes. Israel bombed two border crossings on the border between Lebanon and Syria on Friday.
The Syrian army is in a tough position
Western officials say that the Syrian army in a difficult situationpowerless to stop the rebels and is forced to retreat.
he depended on his allies for years to suppress the rebels: Russian warplanes struck from the air and Iran sent its own fighters, its allies Hezbollah and Iraqi paramilitary organizations, to strengthen ground forces.
But Russia from 2022 focused on the war in Ukraine and the Hezbollah suffered heavy loss in his own war with Israel, which considerably limited his abilities.
Conversations between the Foreign Ministers of Turkey, Russia and Iran
On Friday the Russia she urged her citizens to flee Syria. The Iran their diplomats’ families moved,according to one official.
Iraqi paramilitaries, with the support of Iran, was raised on the alert and thousands of them are ready to be deployed in Syria and have been collected near the border. But it is indeed not yet ordered to cross them, said two of their commanders. Iraq is not seeking military intervention in Syria, a government spokesman said.
I Doha of Qatar began the talks between the foreign ministers of Iran, Russia and Turkeywho will discuss the situation in Syria.
Iranian minister Abbas Aragasi he told iranian television “no concrete decisions have been made” about the future of Syria and that its meeting Doha Its aim is to ensure the territorial integrity of the country.
With information from Reuters, AFP, APE – MEB
How could the international community respond to increasing civilian casualties during the ongoing Syrian conflict?
Interview Setting: A virtual conference room adorned with images of important historical events. The editor of Time.news, Sarah Thompson, sits across from Dr. Amir Farhat,a renowned expert in Middle Eastern politics and conflict resolution.
Sarah Thompson (ST): Welcome, Dr. Farhat! Thank you for joining us today to discuss the rapidly evolving situation in Syria. Just recently, we learned that Syrian rebels are now only 20 kilometers from Damascus. What does this mean for the current state of the Syrian conflict?
Dr. Amir Farhat (AF): Thank you for having me, Sarah. The fact that rebel forces are advancing so close to the capital,damascus,is a significant growth. It reflects the deteriorating grip of Bashar al-Assad’s regime. The rebels’ recent advances,particularly after the fall of Aleppo,indicate a shift in momentum that we haven’t seen in a while.
ST: Indeed, the collapse of government forces seems to be happening at an alarming pace. What do you think is contributing to this rapid change?
AF: There are several factors at play here. Firstly, the loss of Aleppo has demoralized government forces. It has also resulted in a chain reaction; as insurgents regain control in one area, it emboldens them in others. Additionally, internal divisions within the regime and the impact of external support to the rebels exacerbate this situation.
ST: You mentioned emboldening. How are the rebels managing to regain influence in areas where thay were previously thought to have diminished?
AF: The rebels have effectively capitalized on discontent among the local population, and their tactical prowess in warfare has improved considerably. This has allowed them to reclaim control swiftly—cities like Palmyra and others in the south are now under rebel influence, showcasing their ability to mobilize quickly and coordinate effectively.
ST: The humanitarian aspect is also concerning. We’ve seen reports of civilian casualties due to airstrikes, with seven civilians killed in homs recently. What implications does this have for international response and regional stability?
AF: the continued civilian casualties will certainly draw international scrutiny and might invoke reactions from various states. Countries in the region, particularly those already concerned about Syrian stability, like Qatar, may push for renewed discussions on intervention or support for humanitarian corridors.however, this can also lead to increased tensions between regional and global powers in their competing interests in Syria.
ST: With the Syrian government focusing its resources on homs,how might this affect their capability to respond to the rebels and maintain control across the country?
AF: The concentration of forces in Homs may leave other strategic areas,including borders and key cities,vulnerable to rebel incursions.If the regime cannot effectively defend multiple fronts, we may witness even more rapid territorial gains for the rebels, which could shift the balance of power considerably.
ST: Given this context, what are the potential scenarios for Syria in the near future? can we anticipate a decisive shift in power?
AF: It’s hard to predict with certainty, but a few scenarios could unfold. We might see the rebels consolidating power in the south and possibly around Damascus, which could lead to a fragmented Syria where different factions control different regions. Conversely, the Assad regime might receive more support from allies like Russia and Iran, leading to intensified conflict. The situation remains fluid and will require careful monitoring.
ST: Thank you, Dr.Farhat, for your insights into this complex situation. It’s clear that Syria’s future remains uncertain, and developments in the coming days will be crucial.
AF: Thank you, Sarah. The situation is indeed precarious, and I hope the international community prioritizes the humanitarian needs of the Syrian people amidst the ongoing conflict.
[The interview concludes, leaving viewers with a deeper understanding of the multifaceted challenges surrounding the Syrian conflict and the urgent need for a resolution.]