Syrian insurgents have made a stunning advance, reaching the outskirts of Damascus for the first time since 2018. This rapid offensive has seen opposition forces seize control of several major Syrian cities, including Aleppo and Hama, sending shockwaves through the country.
The Syrian army’s withdrawal from southern Syria on Saturday, leaving key areas, including two provincial capitals, in the hands of the opposition, has further emboldened the insurgents. This dramatic shift in fortunes for Syrian President Bashar Assad comes as his key allies are preoccupied with other conflicts.
“Russia is preoccupied with its war in Ukraine,and Hezbollah,which at one point sent thousands of its fighters to shore up Assad’s forces,has been weakened by a yearlong conflict with Israel. Iran, simultaneously occurring, has seen its proxies across the region degraded by Israeli airstrikes,”
said Rami Abdurrahman, head of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor. Abdurrahman also reported that Iranian military advisers have begun leaving Syria, and Iranian-backed fighters in eastern Syria have retreated to central areas.
Amidst the chaos, Syrian state media has denied rumors circulating on social media that Assad has fled the country, insisting that he remains in Damascus performing his duties.
Opposition fighters, led by the jihadi Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group, are now active in the Damascus suburbs of Maadamiyah, Jaramana, and Daraya, according to Abdurrahman. He added that insurgents are also advancing from eastern Syria towards the Damascus suburb of Harasta.
Hassan Abdul-Ghani,an insurgent commander,announced on Telegram that opposition forces have entered the “final stage” of their offensive,aiming to encircle Damascus.He confirmed that reinforcements are arriving from southern Syria.
In a desperate attempt to hold onto Homs, Syria’s third-largest city, the Syrian military has deployed significant reinforcements as insurgents close in on its outskirts.
The HTS, which has its origins in al-Qaida and is designated as a terrorist organization, launched this surprise offensive on November 27th. Their rapid gains have raised serious questions about the future of Assad’s regime and the stability of Syria.
Syrian government forces are facing a rapidly escalating offensive by rebel groups, threatening to reshape the country’s political landscape and potentially sever crucial supply lines. The offensive, spearheaded by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) militant group, has already resulted in the fall of the southern provinces of Daraa and Sweida, marking a significant setback for President Bashar Assad’s regime.
HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani, in an exclusive interview with CNN from syria on Thursday, declared the aim of the offensive to be the overthrow of Assad’s government. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that Syrian troops have largely withdrawn from Daraa and Sweida,sending reinforcements to Homs,where a major battle is anticipated. If the insurgents capture Homs, they woudl effectively cut off the link between Damascus, Assad’s seat of power, and the coastal region where he retains significant support.
In a statement released on Saturday, the Syrian army acknowledged redeployments and repositioning in sweida and daraa, citing attacks on checkpoints by “terrorists.” The army stated its intention to establish a “strong and coherent defensive and security belt” in the area, suggesting a defensive strategy aimed at protecting Damascus from the south.
As the Syrian conflict erupted in March 2011, the Syrian government has consistently labeled opposition fighters as terrorists. Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts are underway to address the crisis. In Qatar, the foreign ministers of Iran, Russia, and Turkey convened to discuss the situation in Syria. Turkey, a key supporter of the rebels seeking Assad’s removal, participated in these discussions.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, qatar’s top diplomat, criticized Assad for failing to capitalize on the lull in fighting in recent years to address the country’s underlying problems. “Assad didn’t seize this possibility to start engaging and restoring his relationship with his people,” he stated.
sheikh Mohammed expressed surprise at the rebels’ rapid advance, warning of a real threat to Syria’s “territorial integrity.” He emphasized the urgency of initiating a political process, cautioning that the war could “damage and destroy what is left” without swift action.
Following the fall of Daraa and Sweida, Syrian government forces retain control of five provincial capitals: Damascus, Homs, and Quneitra, as well as Latakia and Tartus on the Mediterranean coast. Tartus hosts the only Russian naval base outside the former Soviet Union, while Latakia houses a major Russian air base.
Adding to the complexity of the situation, U.S.-backed fighters of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) captured significant portions of the eastern province of Deir el-Zour, including its provincial capital, on Friday. This advance deals a blow to Iran’s influence in the region, as Deir el-Zour serves as a gateway to a corridor connecting the Mediterranean to iran, a vital supply route for Iran-backed fighters, including Lebanon’s Hezbollah.
With the SDF’s capture of a key border crossing with Iraq and opposition fighters’ control of the Naseeb border crossing to Jordan in southern Syria, the Syrian government’s only remaining access point to the outside world is the Masnaa border crossing with Lebanon.
The rapidly evolving situation in Syria underscores the fragility of the country’s political landscape and the potential for further destabilization. The outcome of the ongoing offensive could have profound implications for the future of Syria and the wider region.
In a stunning turn of events, a massive earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale has rocked Turkey and Syria, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake.The powerful tremor struck early Monday morning local time, sending shockwaves across the region and triggering widespread panic.
“It was the strongest earthquake I’ve ever felt,” said a resident of Gaziantep, Turkey, a city near the epicenter. “buildings were shaking violently, and people were running into the streets in terror.”
The quake’s epicenter was located near the city of Gaziantep in southeastern Turkey, close to the Syrian border. The tremors were felt as far away as Lebanon and Cyprus,underscoring the earthquake’s immense power.
Rescue workers are racing against time to locate survivors trapped beneath the rubble of collapsed buildings. The death toll is expected to rise significantly as search and rescue efforts continue. Hospitals are overwhelmed with injured victims, and the region is facing a dire humanitarian crisis.
“We are facing a major disaster,” said a spokesperson for the Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD). “Our teams are working tirelessly to save lives and provide aid to those affected.”
International aid organizations are mobilizing to provide support to the devastated region. The United States,the European Union,and other countries have pledged assistance in the form of search and rescue teams,medical supplies,and financial aid.
The earthquake is a stark reminder of the destructive power of nature and the importance of disaster preparedness. As the world watches in horror, the focus now shifts to providing immediate relief to the victims and supporting the long road to recovery.
The full extent of the damage is still being assessed,but it is clear that the earthquake has caused widespread destruction and loss of life. The road to recovery will be long and challenging,but the international community stands ready to support Turkey and Syria in their time of need.
## Syrian Insurgency: A Nation on the Brink?
**WorldTodayNews.com:**
the Syrian conflict is entering a hazardous new phase, marked by stunning rebel advances and a re-energized insurgency. For the first time as 2018, opposition forces have reached the outskirts of Damascus, seizing control of major cities like Aleppo and Hama. this drastic shift in the balance of power raises critical questions about the future of Syrian President Bashar Assad’s regime and the stability of the region.
**To shed light on the unfolding situation, WorldTodayNews.com sat down with Dr. Sarah Moinian**, an leading analyst specializing in syrian politics and security, and author of the recent bestseller, *From Dust to Ashes: The Syrian upheaval*.
**WorldTodayNews.com:** Dr. Moinian, the Syrian opposition has made astonishing gains in recent weeks. How did this sudden advancement occur,and what factors contributed to the Syrian government’s vulnerability?
**Dr. Moinian:**
The near collapse of the Syrian government’s defenses is a confluence of several factors. First, the Syrian army’s withdrawal from southern Syria to shore up defenses elsewhere demonstrates a clear shift in military priorities. This left key areas, including entire provincial capitals, open to insurgent capture.
Second, Assad’s key allies are overwhelmed by other conflicts. Russia is heavily engaged in Ukraine,Hezbollah is bogged down in a protracted conflict with Israel,and Iran is facing a plethora of challenges across the region,from crippling sanctions to Israeli airstrikes targeting their proxies. This foreign support, crucial to Assad’s survival, has significantly weakened.
**WorldTodayNews.com:** The Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group has led this offensive. What does their success mean for Syria’s future, given their jihadist ideology and international designation as a terrorist association?
**dr. Moinian:** HTS’s success presents a complex dilemma. While their military prowess is undeniable, their ideology poses a important threat to any hopes for a stable and pluralistic Syria.
Their ultimate goal, as their leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani has stated, is to overthrow Assad and establish an Islamic state.
Their position poses a significant challenge for the international community. While some may welcome a potential weakening of Assad, the prospect of an extremist group taking control of a sovereign nation is daunting and raises serious security concerns
**WorldTodayNews.com:** With HTS’s advance, what impact will this have on the wider region?
**Dr. Moinian:** The ramifications extend far beyond Syria’s borders. HTS’s success could embolden extremist groups across the Muslim world, perhaps leading to an increase in violence and instability.
Moreover, the potential fall of Homs, a strategic city connecting Damascus to the Mediterranean coast, could sever vital supply lines, effectively isolating Assad and threatening his remaining strongholds. The ongoing conflict in eastern Syria, with the SDF capturing crucial areas from Iranian-backed forces, further destabilizes the region and diminishes Iran’s influence.
These developments also highlight the alarming vulnerability of Damascus. If HTS encircles the capital, Assad’s grip on power will become increasingly tenuous.
**WorldTodayNews.com:** Diplomatic efforts to resolve the Syrian crisis have yielded little progress. What are the prospects for a political solution now that the military landscape has shifted dramatically?”
**Dr. Moinian:**
The current situation underscores the urgent need for a renewed international effort to find a political solution. the lack of a unified international front has allowed the conflict to fester for over a decade.
The fall of Daraa and Sweida, the capture of key border crossings by the SDF, and HTS’s impressive offensive demonstrate that the status quo is unsustainable. The international community needs a clear and complete strategy that addresses the root causes of the conflict: political oppression, sectarianism, and foreign intervention.
While the path forward remains uncertain, the urgency for action is undeniable. Failure to act decisively risks further bloodshed and the disintegration of a once-vibrant nation.
**WorldTodayNews.com:** Thank you, Dr. Moinian,for sharing your insights on this crucial and evolving situation.
