- In 2011, the city of Daraa, located about 100 km from the capital Damascus, became the center of nationwide protests when the Assad government detained and allegedly tortured a group of boys for writing anti-regime graffiti. What began as peaceful demonstrations soon turned into a violent conflict, leaving more than 500,000 people dead and millions displaced.
- According to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, opposition forces now control 90 percent of Daraa province, with regime forces continuing to retreat.
- The fall of Daraa followed the rapid loss of Aleppo, Syria’s second-largest city, and Hama in the country’s central region. These major victories have encouraged rebels to move south towards Homs, Syria’s third-largest city, and even closer to Assad’s stronghold of power, Damascus.
- The rebel coalition that led the attack is led by the al-Qaeda-linked group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). Although declared a terrorist organization by Western governments, HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Jolani said in an interview that the group’s primary goal is to overthrow Assad.
- In the east of the country, government forces evacuated Deir Ezzor, handing over the area to the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), backed by the United States. The withdrawal appears to have been sudden, with troops reportedly regrouping in Palmyra, a major junction on the road to Homs.
- Airstrikes by Syrian and Russian aircraft have tried to slow the rebel advance, but observers say these efforts have been relatively limited, likely due to Russia’s expanded military commitments elsewhere, particularly in Ukraine. Show.
- Jordan has closed its border with Syria, while Lebanon has banned land crossings. Israel, which occupies the Golan Heights, has announced the strengthening of its air and ground forces. Türkiye, which has supported elements of the Syrian opposition, expressed mixed approval and caution as the rebels advanced.
- The center has issued an advisory to “completely avoid all travel to Syria until further notice.” Indians currently in Syria have been advised to “get in touch with the Indian Embassy in Damascus”.
- According to the New York Times, Iran is evacuating its military personnel and military officers from Syria to Iraq and Lebanon. Iranian citizens in Syria are also reportedly evacuating due to growing hostility towards the Iranian regime for its continued support of al-Assad.
- According to UN estimates, more than 280,000 people have been displaced since the offensive began. In Homs, which has endured some of the conflict’s deadliest violence, thousands of residents, particularly from Assad’s Alawite minority, are fleeing in anticipation of the rebels’ arrival.
