Homs falls to anti-regime forces amid uncertainty over Assad’s whereabouts
Military vehicle belonging to the Syrian regime forces is pictured abandoned on the side of a road in Syria's Hama governorate, on December 7, 2024. (AFP Photo)
Syrian opposition forces have entered Homs, the country’s third-largest city, capturing several key districts in what is considered a strategic gateway to the capital, Damascus. The opposition, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), has been locked in fierce battles with forces loyal to Assad’s regime since Nov. 27.
After intense fighting, opposition forces advanced into the inner parts of Homs, securing control of the city center.
The clashes, noted for their ferocity, mark some of the most violent in recent months, as Homs’ proximity to Damascus heightens its strategic importance.
Regime forces launched heavy airstrikes to counter the opposition’s advance, but after suffering significant losses, Assad’s troops were forced to retreat from the city center.
Opposition forces advance toward capital Damascus
The escalation in Homs is part of a broader offensive by anti-regime forces across Syria. On Nov. 30, opposition groups captured most of Aleppo and secured control over Idlib. By Dec. 5, the opposition had taken the city center of Hama.
In the south, opposition fighters launched an operation in Daraa on Dec. 6, reclaiming the provincial capital from regime forces. By Dec. 7, the province of Suwayda was under opposition control, along with Quneitra, another key provincial capital.
In the Aleppo countryside, the Syrian National Army liberated the town of Tel Rifaat from PKK/YPG militants as part of its “Dawn of Freedom” operation, initiated on Dec. 1.
Opposition forces are now advancing toward the southern suburbs of Damascus, intensifying pressure in the ongoing conflict.
