Syrian Rebels Advance on Homs, Aim to Oust Assad
Syrian Rebels Advance on homs, Aiming to Topple Assad Regime
Homs, Syria - Islamist-led Syrian rebels are closing in on the strategic city of Homs, marking a notable advance in thier campaign to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad.
In a matter of days, rebel forces have seized control of Aleppo, syria’s second-largest city, and the strategically vital city of hama, both of which had been under government control as the civil war began in 2011.If rebels capture Homs, it would sever a crucial link between the capital, Damascus, and the Mediterranean coast, a stronghold of the Assad family which has ruled Syria for five decades.
As of this morning, rebel fighters were reportedly just 5 kilometers from the outskirts of Homs, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a war monitoring group.
Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, leader of the rebel coalition Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), stated in a recent interview that the rebels’ objective remains unchanged: to oust Assad from power.
“When we talk about goals, the goal of the revolution is to overthrow the regime,” jolani said.”We have the right to use all available means to achieve this goal.”
HTS, which emerged from the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda, has been attempting to project a more moderate image in recent years. The current offensive, launched on november 27th, is being led by HTS.
The escalating conflict has prompted international concern. Turkey, a key backer of the rebels, announced that its Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will meet with his Russian and Iranian counterparts in Qatar this weekend to discuss the situation in Syria.
Syrian Rebels Close in on Homs, Aiming to Topple Assad
Homs, Syria – Picking up momentum, Islamist-led Syrian rebels are making a decisive push towards the strategically vital city of Homs, a significant growth in their ongoing campaign to oust President Bashar al-Assad.
This advance comes on the heels of rapid rebel victories, with the capture of Aleppo, SyriaS second largest city, and Hama, a strategically vital city, both of which had remained under government control since the inception of the civil war in 2011.
Should rebels successfully seize Homs, it would deal a crippling blow to the Assad regime by severing a crucial supply line between Damascus, the capital, and the Mediterranean coast, a bastion of support for the Assad family dynasty that has ruled Syria for five decades.
reports from the syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a prominent war monitoring group, indicate that rebel fighters are now within a mere 5 kilometers of Homs’ outskirts.
Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, the leader of the rebel coalition Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), recently reiterated the rebels’ unwavering commitment to toppling Assad in a recent interview. “When we talk about goals, the goal of the revolution is to overthrow the regime,” Jolani stated. “We have the right to use all available means to achieve this goal.”
HTS, which evolved from the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda, has been actively working to cultivate a more moderate public image in recent years.
This latest offensive, launched on November 27th, is spearheaded by HTS.
The escalation of the conflict has sparked international alarm. Turkey, a key supporter of the rebels, has announced that its Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will engage in trilateral talks with his Russian and Iranian counterparts in Qatar this weekend to address the situation in Syria.