Thousands of people have fled the Syrian city of Homs as anti-regime forces push their lightning offensive further south towards Damascus.
Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (which is closely connected to opposition groups), said fighters led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) were 5km (3 miles) “from the outskirts of Homs city” after capturing two towns – Rastan and Talbiseh – in the governorate of Homs.
The strategically important province of Homs, which is the gateway to the capital Damascus, stands out as the heartland of Syria due to its geographical location, proximity to energy resources and logistical advantages, giving it a critical place in both domestic politics and international power balance in the country.
Centrally located in Syria at the intersection of major transportation routes, including the M5 Highway, Homs serves as a critical hub for logistics, trade, and military mobility, connecting key cities like Damascus, Aleppo, and Latakia while benefiting from its strategic proximity to the Mediterranean port of Latakia.
Homs serves as a vital hub for energy resources, with natural gas and oil pipelines passing through the city, while its fertile agricultural lands and industrial facilities bolster its importance for the local and national economy.
In other developments:
- Clashes are taking place in the Noa district of Daraa province in southern Syria between the Bashar al-Assad regime forces and opposition groups. Opposition groups have captured several locations in Syria’s Daraa province, intensifying clashes with regime forces.
- The Syrian regime has handed over control of Deir ez-Zor, a city near the Iraqi border, to the Kurdish PKK/YPG group. The move comes following Syrian forces leaving several key areas in the region.
- The new leader of Lebanon’s movement has vowed to continue to support Syria to thwart the recent onslaught launched by the “U.S.-backed” Takfiri terrorists.
“The assault against Syria is sponsored by the US and Israel, the Takfiri groups have always been their tools since 2011 when the crisis began in Syria,” Sheikh Naim Qassem said.
- Jordanian Interior Minister Mazin Al Farrayeh announced today the closure of the Jaber border crossing with Syria, the only operational crossing between the two nations, citing security concerns
- The Israeli army says it is bolstering forces around border with Syria due to developments in the civil war. It deployed soldiers to the occupied Golan Heights, saying it is “raising their readiness according to the various scenarios”.
Clashes between Syrian regime forces and anti-regime groups first erupted on Nov. 27 in the western countryside of Aleppo.
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By Nov. 30, the opposition forces had taken control of most of Aleppo’s city centre and established dominance across Idlib province.
On Dec. 1, the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army launched “Operation Dawn of Freedom” against the Kurdish PKK/YPG group in the Tel Rifaat district of Aleppo’s countryside, capturing the area.
And yesterday, anti-regime forces captured the city of Hama.
More to follow…
