Ministry of Defense refuted rumors that President Bashar al-Assad had abandoned the city; Assad’s forces face their most critical moment since the start of the civil war in 2011
Syrian rebel groups said on Saturday (7) that they were laying siege as part of an offensive led by the Islamist alliance Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). The action marks a significant advance in the conflict, with the rebel command declaring that it has begun the “final phase” of the siege of the capital. On the other hand, the Syrian government denied having lost control of the city and refuted rumors that the president had abandoned the capital. The Ministry of Defense classified the information as “unfounded”.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (OSDH), a UK-based NGO, government forces have recently lost control of strategic regions such as the southern province of Daraa and positions in Quneitra, near the Golan Heights. . Since the offensive began on September 27, the government has also lost the cities of Aleppo and Hama, as well as areas near Homs, where shelling by Syrian and Russian forces killed at least seven civilians on Saturday.
The conflict, which has lasted more than a decade but was frozen before rebel groups took action at the end of November, has left 826 people dead in just the last few days, including more than 100 civilians, in addition to displacing 370,000 people, according to data. UN and OSDH.
Tension scenario in Damascus and international reactions
In the suburbs of the capital, protesters toppled a statue of Hafez al-Assad, father of the current president, in a symbolic act against the regime. At the same time, rebel forces seek to reassure the local population, asking different religious communities to remain calm and promising the “end of sectarianism and tyranny”, according to rebel commander Hasan Abdel Ghani.
On the international stage, Russia, the Syrian government’s main ally, classified the rebels’ advance as “unacceptable” and asked its citizens to leave the country. Iran, another Assad ally, has begun withdrawing military personnel and diplomats, while the United States and Jordan have also issued similar warnings.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who supports groups linked to HTS, expressed optimism regarding the possibility of stability in Syria. On the other hand, US President-elect Donald Trump declared that the country “should not get involved” in the conflict.
Humanitarian situation and prospects
With Russian and Iranian support weakened by regional conflicts and the war in Ukraine, Assad’s forces face their most critical moment since the start of the civil war in 2011, which has left more than 500,000 dead and divided the country into zones of influence. controlled by foreign powers. While the situation in Damascus remains uncertain, the rebel offensive demonstrates the fragility of the regime and increases the challenges to a peaceful solution in Syria.
*With information from AFP
Published by Felipe Dantas
