The leader of an Islamist organisation leading an insurgency in Syria claims his men have seized complete control of Homs, the country's third largest city. Abu Mohammed al-Golani described it as a "historic victory" and encouraged his followers not to punish those who surrendered. The BBC has not yet been able to confirm the accusations. The Syrian Defence Ministry denied the reports and stated that the situation in Homs was "stable and safe". Meanwhile, opposition troops are said to be closing in on Damascus, and the Syrian army says it is increasing its troop presence surrounding the city.
Meanwhile, opposition troops are said to be closing in on Damascus, and the Syrian army says it is increasing its troop presence surrounding the city. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), anti-Assad rebels entered Homs and "took control of several neighbourhoods". Rebel commander Hasan Abdul Ghani announced the "complete liberation" of Homs and posted on X that more than 3,500 captives had been released. The surrender of the city to rebel troops would be another huge setback for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad since it would isolate Damascus, cutting it off from the coastal heartland of his family's minority Alawite sect.
It would also be a symbolic win, given Homs was the opposition's bastion during the initial stages of the civil war, which began in 2011.
Ghani stated that operations to "liberate the entire Damascus countryside, and our eyes are watching the capital, Damascus" were ongoing. According to an unidentified US official, the city appeared to be "falling suburb by suburb to the rebels". Demonstrators sang and cheered as a statue of President Assad's late father, Hafez al-Assad, was toppled in Jeramana, a southern suburb.
Described the uncertainties there. "We are afraid because we don't know what will happen," journalist Zaina Shahla stated. "Nobody wants to see fighting in Damascus." Rim Turkmani, director of the London School of Economics' Syria Conflict Research Programme, stated that her sister was still in the city and had reported that supplies were running low and ATMs were out of cash.