Syrian army withdraws from key city of Homs as rebels encircle Damascus

Syria’s capital now cut off from Bashar al-Assad’s coastal strongholds as insurgents advance from north, south and eastMiddle East crisis: latest news updatesThe Syrian army has withdrawn from Homs city in central Syria ahead of a rebel offensive on Saturday night, cutting off Damascus from Bashar al-Assad’s coastal strongholds as a lightning offensive brought rebel factions to the besieged president’s doorstep.Videos showed Syrian forces withdrawing from security branches in Homs as insurgents led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) entered city limits. The rebel commander Hassan Abdul-Ghani said that its forces were conducting “combing operations” in the city neighbourhoods to find any Syrian soldiers that remained. Continue reading...

Syrian army withdraws from key city of Homs as rebels encircle Damascus

Syria’s capital now cut off from Bashar al-Assad’s coastal strongholds as insurgents advance from north, south and east

The Syrian army has withdrawn from Homs city in central Syria ahead of a rebel offensive on Saturday night, cutting off Damascus from Bashar al-Assad’s coastal strongholds as a lightning offensive brought rebel factions to the besieged president’s doorstep.

Videos showed Syrian forces withdrawing from security branches in Homs as insurgents led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) entered city limits. The rebel commander Hassan Abdul-Ghani said that its forces were conducting “combing operations” in the city neighbourhoods to find any Syrian soldiers that remained. Continue reading...