Sat Dec 07 10:11:40 UTC 2024: ## Syrian Rebels Seize Daraa, Fourth Major City to Fall in a Week
**Damascus, Syria** – Syrian rebels have captured Daraa, the city where the 2011 uprising against President Bashar al-Assad began, marking a significant turning point in the ongoing civil war. This victory, achieved on December 7th, follows the rebel takeover of three other major cities in the past week, throwing the Assad regime into a deepening crisis.
Rebel sources report that government forces withdrew from Daraa under a negotiated agreement ensuring safe passage to Damascus. Unlike previous city captures, which fell to Islamist-led rebel alliances, Daraa was taken by local armed groups, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
The rapid rebel advance has raised concerns globally, prompting India to issue a travel advisory urging its citizens to avoid all travel to Syria. The Ministry of External Affairs cited the volatile situation and significant risks to travelers as the reason for the advisory.
The fall of Daraa, along with Aleppo and Hama, significantly weakens Assad’s control over key regions and raises questions about the future of the Syrian conflict. The strategic city of Homs is now considered increasingly vulnerable.
First Piper 