Anti-Assad Rebels Capture Key Region in Southern Syria
Rebel forces have reportedly gained control of much of the southern Deraa region, a strategic area and the birthplace of Syria’s 2011 uprising against President Bashar al-Assad.
According to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), local factions have taken over numerous military sites following intense battles with government forces. Rebels reportedly reached a deal for the Syrian army to withdraw, offering military officials safe passage to Damascus, roughly 100 km (62 miles) away.
Strategic and Symbolic Importance of Deraa
Deraa city, a provincial capital near Jordan’s border, holds both strategic and symbolic significance. It was the epicenter of the pro-democracy protests that sparked the ongoing Syrian civil war, which has claimed over half a million lives.
Jordan has since closed its border crossings, citing security concerns, and urged its citizens to leave Syria.
Tensions Rise in Suweida and Beyond
Nearby, government officials reportedly fled the Druze-majority city of Suweida following clashes between local militias and security forces. Ryan Marouf of Suwayda 24 described this as a growing rejection of Assad’s rule:
“People see this as a chance to bring down the regime.”
Rebel Advances Across Syria
In the north, Islamist-led rebels, including Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), have reached the outskirts of Homs, a strategic city linking Damascus to Assad’s Alawite heartland.
Elsewhere, Kurdish-led forces claim to have seized Deir Ezzor in eastern Syria, while Russian airstrikes attempt to slow the rebel advance near Homs. Assad’s military faces mounting losses, compounded by reports of Russian and Iranian allies scaling back their involvement.
Crisis Escalates
UN reports estimate that 370,000 people have been displaced by the rebel offensive in the past week. Civilians in frontline areas face dire conditions as supplies dwindle, while over 820 people, including 111 civilians, have been killed during this latest surge in violence.
The Syrian civil war, now entering a new phase, has seen renewed calls for international mediation. UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged all parties with influence to help end the conflict, but peace remains elusive as rebel groups press forward.
