Syrian rebels rapidly expanded their control, seizing major cities in the south and nearing Homs, a strategic central city crucial to President Bashar al-Assad’s regime. Since capturing Aleppo, Hama, and Deir al-Zor, insurgents have gained territory in Quneitra, Deraa, and Suweida, pushing within 50 km of Damascus.
The Syrian military has concentrated its defenses on Homs, bolstered by reinforcements and airstrikes. Rebel factions, including Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, claim to be “at the walls” of Homs, urging government forces to defect. The city’s fall would sever Damascus’s connection to Assad’s Alawite coastal strongholds and Russian bases.
Assad’s allies, including Iran and Russia, face challenges. Russia’s focus on Ukraine and Hezbollah’s losses in its conflict with Israel have weakened their support. Iran-backed militias are on high alert but risk Israeli airstrikes if deployed. Meanwhile, regional powers, including Turkey and Russia, called for an end to the fighting during talks in Doha.
The conflict’s escalation has stunned regional leaders, threatening further instability. Analysts warn Homs’s capture would isolate Assad’s regime, leaving Damascus vulnerable to a potential rebel assault.
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