Report: Syrian Rebel Forces Reach Damascus Suburbs

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Facts

  • According to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Syrian rebels reached the outskirts of the capital, Damascus, for the first time since 2018 on Saturday, including the suburbs of Maadamiyah, Jaramana, and Daraya, as government forces lost control of major cities across the nation.[1][2]
  • Protesters were seen on video toppling a statue of Pres. Bashar al-Assad's father in Jaramana while soldiers reportedly deserted their posts in several areas. State media dismissed claims of Assad fleeing the country.[3][4]
  • Around 2K Syrian government troops have reportedly sought refuge in Iraq as rebel commander Hassan Abdul Ghany announced the complete capture of the strategic city of Homs, which connects Damascus to the regime's coastal stronghold.[5][6][7]
  • This comes as Assad's traditional allies are preoccupied elsewhere — Russia with Ukraine, Iran with regional tensions, and Hezbollah with Israel. However, Russia has reportedly engaged in air strikes in Homs with the Syrian government.[8][9]
  • The UN special envoy for Syria has called for urgent talks in Geneva to ensure an 'orderly political transition,' while foreign ministers from Russia, Iran, and Turkey met in Doha to discuss the crisis.[5][8]
  • Since launching the major offensive on Nov. 27, the rebels, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), have already captured strategic cities, including Aleppo, Hama, and Daraa.[10][11]

Sources: [1]Sky News, [2]NPR Online News, [3]Guardian, [4]BBC News (a), [5]Middle East Eye, [6]Reuters, [7]Timesofisrael, [8]Associated Press, [9]Al Jazeera, [10]The New Arab and [11]BBC News (b).

Narratives

  • Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by New York Times and Wsj. The Assad regime's looming collapse signals a pivotal shift for Syria and the region, as rebel forces achieve historic advancements. Gains in key areas like Aleppo and Homs, driven by the unified opposition's determination, expose Assad's vulnerabilities and reflect weakened support from Russia and Iran. A liberated Syria could reduce authoritarian influence and foster stability, benefiting both the Middle East and global geopolitics.
  • Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by Stonecoldtruth and Youtube. The US, through CIA-backed operations, is the one fueling this regime change operation in Syria by teaming up with jihadist groups like HTS, which is actually Al Qaeda — the same group that was behind 9/11. Despite the fact that this intervention will reignite sectarian violence and destabilize the region, the US government only cares about stoking war and filling the pockets of its friends in the weapons manufacturing industry.

Predictions