Syrian rebels have seized a key southwestern city close to the border with Jordan and claimed they are closing in on the capital of Damascus. The Hayat Tahrir al-Sham commander announced that their forces are implementing the final phase of encircling Damascus. Video footage showed people in Jaramana, a Damascus suburb, tearing down a bust of President Bashar al-Assad’s father. The rebel group also claimed to have secured the city centers of Daraa, Sweida, and Quneitra. The rebels have had significant victories, including capturing Daraa, where pro-democracy protests in 2011 sparked the ongoing civil war.
The rebels’ advances have shifted the balance of power in Syria, with insurgents taking Aleppo in the north and forcing government forces out of Hama. They have also advanced to the edge of the city of Homs. If they capture Homs, it could cut Damascus off from government strongholds on the Mediterranean coast, potentially signaling the end of Assad’s regime. However, the outcome of the conflict is still uncertain, with fighting continuing between rebel groups and government forces.
Syria’s army has begun to take control in the provinces of Homs and Hama against what they call “terrorist organizations.” The collapse of government control in Daraa and the threat to Homs indicate vulnerabilities in Assad’s grip on power. Reports suggest that fighting throughout the country has strained the regime’s forces. Additionally, Jordan has closed its border crossing due to security concerns related to the conflict in southern Syria.
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