Reports Indicate Syrian Leader Assad Departs Damascus Amid Rebel Advances
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Damascus, December 8 (NationPress) Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has been reported to have left Damascus as rebel forces make strides toward the capital, according to various media sources. Earlier on Saturday, the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) announced considerable advancements in Damascus, following their declaration on Friday that their forces had penetrated Homs, the third-largest city in Syria, which serves as a crucial link between Damascus and Assad's coastal strongholds, as detailed by war monitoring groups and local outlets.
Information from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based war monitoring organization, corroborated that HTS and its allied factions have taken control over multiple neighborhoods in Homs.
In the midst of the turmoil, reports emerged that authorities at Homs' central prison reportedly opened the gates, allowing all inmates to escape, according to the Observatory.
Footage shared on social media from the area depicted a statue of Hafez al-Assad, the father and predecessor of Bashar al-Assad, being demolished.
Meanwhile, the pro-government radio station Sham FM reported that the Syrian army is repositioning its units on the outskirts of Homs, although it did not specify whether any urban regions have been vacated.
Homs, which was a stronghold for opposition forces during the initial years of Syria's civil war, had been under government control since 2014.
However, the recent advances by the rebels signify a notable change, with HTS forces capturing Aleppo, all of Idlib province in northern Syria, and the central-western cities of Hama and Homs, culminating in their offensive towards Damascus.
This escalating conflict has led to a humanitarian crisis, with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reporting that over 370,000 people have been displaced within just one week of fighting.
The worsening security conditions heighten concerns regarding the future stability of Syria as rebel forces persist in their campaign, while government troops strive to maintain their positions.
Additionally, India has issued a travel advisory for its citizens, cautioning against visiting Syria amid the ongoing unrest.
