President Bashar Al Assad’s grip on Syria is weakening as rebels make rapid advances, pushing government forces into retreat. Rebels have reached the outskirts of Homs, a strategic city connecting Damascus to coastal strongholds like Latakia and Tartus. Losing Homs would further isolate Al Assad, whose forces are also losing ground in Aleppo and Hama.
Rebel leaders claim they are targeting Homs from multiple directions, aiming for a victory that could leave Damascus vulnerable. Analysts compare the momentum to the Taliban’s swift capture of Afghanistan in 2021. Joshua Landis, a Middle East expert, suggests, “Nobody wants to die for this regime anymore.”
Meanwhile, Russia’s support appears to waver. Sources close to the Kremlin indicate no plans to save Al Assad if the army continues to falter.
Moscow has urged its citizens to leave Syria, and Russian troops are reportedly stretched thin due to the Ukraine war. Iran, another key ally, is also scaling back its presence, relocating military commanders and resources.
Hayat Tahrir Al Sham, leading the rebel offensive, describes Al Assad’s regime as already “dead.” Analysts warn that losing Homs could trigger a downward spiral for the government, further displacing civilians as UN figures show 370,000 people have fled in just a week.
Western governments, including the US and Canada, have advised their citizens to leave Damascus. With rebel forces closing in, Syria’s capital faces an uncertain future, and Al Assad’s decades-long reign seems increasingly precarious.
