Syria’s besieged government announced yesterday that it was establishing a ring of steel around Damascus, state media reported, as jihadist rebels, in a lightning offensive, claimed they were closing in on the city.
“There is a very strong security adn military cordon on the far edges of Damascus and its periphery, and no one can penetrate this defensive line that we, the armed forces, are building,” Interior Minister Mohammed al Rahmoun told the state television from the capital.
“Our forces have begun the final phase to surround the capital,” said rebel commander mohamed al Jolani, of the Islamist-led alliance that launched the offensive.
The leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the Islamist group that has led the attack, urged fighters to prepare to take Damascus, just a week after resuming the offensive in the long-simmering conflict. .
“Damascus awaits us,” wrote HTS’s Ahmed al Sharaa on Telegram, using his real name rather of his nom de guerre, abu mohammed al Jolani. But the Defense Ministry insisted: “there is no truth in the news that our armed forces have withdrawn” from positions near Damascus.
The Western press could not independently verify some of the data provided by the government and the rebels, as reporters could not access the areas around damascus where the rebels say they are present.
In a Damascus suburb yesterday, witnesses said protesters tore down a statue of Assad’s father, the late President Hafez al assad. Similar scenes were seen in images shared by local media in the southern city of Daraa and in online videos from Hama, north of Damascus, that jihadists captured in recent days.
“The rebels entered Hama, it was a great joy for us, something we had been waiting for since 2011,” said resident Maymouna Jawad, referring to the year when Assad’s crackdown on democracy protests escalated into a civil war.
The presidency denied reports that Assad had left Damascus, stating that he was “carrying out his work and his national and constitutional duties from the capital.”
The HTS leader said in an interview with CNN on friday that “the goal of the revolution remains to overthrow this regime.”
Fears of “chaos.” As government forces retreat, the Syrian Observatory for human Rights (OSDH) and Abdel Ghani said the rebels were 20 kilometers (12 miles) from Damascus. The Observatory reported that government forces had given up more key ground, losing control of the entire southern province of Daraa, the birthplace of the 2011 uprising.
The army claimed it was “relocating and repositioning” in Daraa and another southern province, Sweida. The Observatory, based in Britain but with an extensive network of informants in Syrian territory, reported that troops were also evacuating positions in Quneitra, near the Golan Heights, annexed by Israel.
Jordan urged its citizens to leave neighboring Syria “as soon as possible,” as did Assad allies Russia and the United States, which maintain troops in Syria.
In the central Homs area, a key point towards Damascus, the Observatory said government forces had brought in “large reinforcements” and slowed the rebel advance.
An Iraqi security source assured that Baghdad allowed the entry of hundreds of Syrian soldiers who “fled the front lines” through the Al Qaim border crossing. A second source estimated the figure at 2,000 troops, including officers.
As the offensive began last week, at least 826 people, mostly combatants but also including 111 civilians, have been killed, the Observatory reported.The UN said the violence has displaced 370,000 people.
UN special envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen called for “urgent political talks” to implement 2015 Security Council Resolution 2254, which established a roadmap for a negotiated settlement.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called for a “political solution to the conflict” yesterday in a call with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.
After Fidan and his Iranian and Russian counterparts discussed Syria in Qatar on Saturday, Iranian Foreign Minister abbas Araghchi said they agreed to start a “political dialog between the Syrian government and legitimate opposition groups.” Russian Sergei Lavrov said it was “inadmissible” to allow “a terrorist group to take control” of Syrian territory.
Moscow and Tehran have supported Assad’s government and army during the war, as has the Lebanese Shiite armed group Hezbollah.
A source close to Hezbollah said it had sent 2,000 fighters to Syria, to an area near the Lebanese border, “to defend its positions.”
Turkish President Recep Tayyip erdogan, whose government backs some armed groups in northern Syria, said yesterday that Syria “is tired of war, blood and tears.”
“Our wish is that our neighbor, Syria, finds the peace and tranquility that it has been dreaming of for 13 years,” said Erdogan, who on Friday had announced that the rebels’ desire was to “reach Damascus.”
s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window, document,’script’,
‘
window.paywallConfig.facebook_pixel=”1000228364089342″
2024-12-08 03:12:00
What are the main factors contributing to the recent escalation of the Syrian conflict near Damascus?
Interview between Time.news Editor and Expert on syrian Conflict
Time.news Editor: Good afternoon, and thank you for joining us today to discuss the escalating situation in Syria, especially around Damascus. We’ve seen some significant developments lately. Can you give us yoru overview of what’s happening?
Expert: Good afternoon, and thank you for having me. Yes, the situation is quite critical.The Syrian government has declared a “ring of steel” around Damascus in response to a sudden offensive by jihadist rebels, especially those affiliated with the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). This marks a significant escalation in the conflict as these rebel forces claim they are closing in on the capital.
Time.news Editor: It seems like the rebels have caught the government off guard. What can you tell us about the strategies employed by both sides in this latest confrontation?
Expert: Certainly. The rebels, led by commander Mohammed al Jolani of HTS, have been strategic in their approach, using a combination of rapid offensives and local support to gain ground. This was evident when they launched their recent offensive just a week ago. On the other hand, the government, led by Interior Minister Mohammed al Rahmoun, is trying to fortify their defenses around Damascus with a strong military cordon. They insist that their forces are still firmly in place, despite the claims of local advances by the rebels.
Time.news Editor: We’ve seen some profound symbolism with protests against the regime, such as the tearing down of the statue of Hafez al-Assad.How do you believe these actions are impacting the morale of both sides?
Expert: Symbolic acts like that can be incredibly powerful.For the rebels and the civilians supporting them, it represents a surge of hope and rebellion against the Assad regime. It galvanizes support and suggests that the tide might be turning. On the flip side,such events can lead to increased repression from the government,as they perceive it as a threat to their authority. They might retaliate with heightened military efforts or crackdowns on dissent.
Time.news Editor: There seems to be a challenge in verifying details coming out of the area due to limited access for reporters. How does that affect our understanding of the situation?
Expert: The lack of autonomous verification complicates the narrative considerably. Both the government and the rebels have reasons to exaggerate their claims to portray strength and control. Without on-the-ground reporting, it’s hard to assess the true situation. This leads to a fog of war in information that can skew public perception and, ultimately, international response.
Time.news Editor: Looking forward, what scenarios do you predict coudl unfold in the coming weeks as this confrontation intensifies?
Expert: There are a number of potential outcomes. If the rebels succeed in breaching the cordon around damascus, it could lead to a major shift in power dynamics within the country. However, if the government can hold its lines and push back effectively, it may stabilize the situation temporarily, but at a significant humanitarian cost. We must also consider the international implications; increased fighting could provoke intervention or concerns from neighboring countries and global powers, further complicating an already complex scenario.
Time.news Editor: Thank you for your insights. The situation in Syria remains fluid and complex, and it’s crucial we continue to watch these developments closely. Your expertise certainly sheds light on the intricacies we don’t always see in the headlines.
Expert: Thank you for having me. It’s significant to keep the conversation going and ensure that the voices from the ground are not forgotten amid the chaos.