Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham group took control of cities near Homs, the third largest in the country, and is preparing for a possible decisive attack against the regime of Bashar al-Assad
This Friday (6), the Syrian government lost control of the city of Dera and more than 90% of the province of the same name, located in the south of the country, as reported by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (OSDH). Dera, known as the birthplace of the 2011 uprising, was taken over by local factions, prompting regime forces to withdraw. Simultaneously, intense bombings carried out by Russian and Syrian forces against rebel positions near Homs, the third largest city in the country, left at least 20 people dead, including five members of the same family, according to the OSDH. The attacks come as insurgent forces advance into the region, challenging the president’s rule.
The rebel group Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) has taken control of the cities of Rastan and Talbiseh, near Homs, and is preparing for a possible decisive attack against the regime. The offensive has generated a wave of mass displacement, with thousands of people fleeing the region. Images posted on social media show highways full of vehicles heading to safer areas.
The loss of Homs would be a significant blow to the Assad government, given the city’s strategic value as a logistical and economic hub. Furthermore, the insurgents have already declared that, after Homs, they intend to direct their offensive towards the capital Damascus.
*Report produced with the help of AI
