Economic Rules Hub
  • World
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Investing
Home World Syrian rebels appear to have entered Damascus as Assad regime’s defenses crumble
World

Syrian rebels appear to have entered Damascus as Assad regime’s defenses crumble

by admin December 8, 2024
December 8, 2024

Syrian rebels appear to have entered the capital Damascus after facing scant resistance from regime forces, as President Bashar al-Assad’s decades-long grip on power seemed to wane by the minute.

Hours before, Syria’s main armed opposition group said it had “fully liberated” the major city of Homs, north of the capital. Syrians were seen tearing down and setting fire to posters of Assad after rebels had entered the city, in scenes reminiscent of pro-democracy protests in the city during the Arab Spring more than a decade ago.

Just a day ago, observers were saying Homs was of huge strategic importance to the rebels, as its capture effectively split the Assad regime in two, severing the government in Damascus from the coast. But by Sunday morning, it was not clear there was even a functioning regime left to speak of.

The rebels’ progress has been stunningly swift. After bursting out of their territory in the northwestern Idlib province, the main rebel group captured Aleppo and Hama in just over a week of fighting. After they were joined Friday by a fresh uprising in the southern Daraa province, both groups set their sights on Damascus.

“We were able to liberate four Syrian cities within 24 hours: Daraa, Quneitra, Suwayda and Homs,” said Lt. Col. Hassan Abdul Ghani, a spokesperson for the main rebel group. “Our operations are continuing to liberate the entire Damascus countryside, and our eyes are on the capital, Damascus.”

It had been expected that the regime would mount a firmer defense of Damascus, but the rebels said that senior Assad regime officials were preparing to defect to them in the capital.

Echoes of earlier protests

The scenes recall one of the most symbolic images from the Arab Spring in Syria, when pro-democracy protesters tore down Assad posters on top of the same gates in 2011.

Nearby, residents were also seen celebrating in Clock Tower square, one of the focal points of the original anti-government protests.

To stamp out those protests, the regime army launched a brutal assault on the city’s Khalidiya neighborhood in 2012, using tanks and mortars to attack civilian homes, causing some to collapse. Regime troops stormed the area, slaughtering families in their homes. Around 200 people are thought to have died in the massacre.

In a video live-streamed from Clock Tower square by a resident late Saturday, a resident threw a framed portrait of Assad on the ground, shattering its glass. Over the course of 10 minutes, Syrians filled the square, chanting in celebration at the growing apparent collapse of the Assad regime.

This post appeared first on cnn.com

0
FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
previous post
South Korean prosecutors detain ex-defense chief over martial law imposition
next post
Who will be the next CNN Hero of the Year? Get to know the Top 5

Related Posts

China to make all hospitals offer epidurals to incentivize childbirth

June 10, 2025

Soldiers return home after years in captivity as Ukraine-Russia prisoner...

June 10, 2025

Teenage TikTok star’s murder leaves Pakistani women questioning whether any...

June 10, 2025

Russia strikes Kyiv and Odesa with aerial attacks, at least...

June 10, 2025

Canada plans to hit NATO spending target early and reduce...

June 10, 2025

Greta Thunberg departs Israel on flight to Paris after detention...

June 10, 2025

    Get free access to all of the retirement secrets and income strategies from our experts! or Join The Exclusive Subscription Today And Get the Premium Articles Acess for Free


    By opting in you agree to receive emails from us and our affiliates. Your information is secure and your privacy is protected.

    Recent

    • Soldiers return home after years in captivity as Ukraine-Russia prisoner swap begins

      June 10, 2025
    • China to make all hospitals offer epidurals to incentivize childbirth

      June 10, 2025
    • Canada plans to hit NATO spending target early and reduce reliance on US defense, Carney says

      June 10, 2025
    • Russia strikes Kyiv and Odesa with aerial attacks, at least two people wounded, officials say

      June 10, 2025
    • Teenage TikTok star’s murder leaves Pakistani women questioning whether any safe spaces exist – online or on the street

      June 10, 2025

    Categories

    • Business (1,396)
    • Investing (3,417)
    • Politics (4,574)
    • World (4,489)
    • Email Whitelisting
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contacts
    • About us

    Disclaimer: EconomicRulesHub.com, its managers, its employees, and assigns (collectively “The Company”) do not make any guarantee or warranty about what is advertised above. Information provided by this website is for research purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendation. Any investments recommended here should be taken into consideration only after consulting with your investment advisor and after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.

    Copyright © 2024 EconomicRulesHub.com | All Rights Reserved

    Economic Rules Hub
    • World
    • Politics
    • Business
    • Investing