Sun Dec 08 03:42:00 UTC 2024: ## Syrian Rebels Seize Major Cities, Assad’s Fate Uncertain as Damascus Falls Under Siege

**Damascus, Syria (December 7, 2024)** – Syrian rebels have launched a stunning offensive, seizing control of several major cities including Homs, and are now encircling the capital, Damascus, prompting the suspected flight of President Bashar al-Assad. The rapid advance, led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group, has left the Assad regime clinging to power in just a handful of provincial capitals.

Early Sunday, reports emerged of rebel fighters entering Damascus, accompanied by gunfire and explosions. The Syrian government has yet to issue an official statement, but pro-government media confirmed the evacuation of Damascus airport and the halting of all flights. The rebels also claimed to have liberated prisoners from the notorious Saydnaya military prison.

Three unnamed U.S. officials told CBS News that Damascus was expected to fall and that Iranian forces supporting Assad had largely withdrawn from the country. While the Syrian government initially denied rumors of Assad’s departure, the head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Rami Abdurrahman, reported that the President had left for an undisclosed location.

The insurgents’ advance has been swift and largely unopposed. They have captured Aleppo and Hama in recent days, and now control the strategic city of Homs, severing a crucial link between Damascus and Assad’s coastal strongholds of Latakia and Tartus. This leaves the government in control of only three of fourteen provincial capitals.

President-elect Donald Trump, commenting on the situation on Truth Social, urged the United States to remain uninvolved. White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan echoed this sentiment, stating the U.S. will focus on its national security interests while preventing the Islamic State from exploiting the chaos.

The situation has triggered a mass exodus of civilians. The rebels’ rapid gains, starting November 27th, represent a major turning point in the long-running Syrian civil war, with analysts describing the fall of Homs as a game-changer. The speed and scale of the offensive have surprised many, including Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, who expressed concern over the threat to Syria’s territorial integrity and the potential for further destruction. A meeting between the foreign ministers of Iran, Russia, and Turkey is scheduled in Qatar to discuss the crisis. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has reportedly limited Russia’s ability to aid Assad, while Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Iranian proxies have also suffered setbacks.

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