Syria’s opposition claims to be surrounding Damascus, but the military denies any withdrawal

Syria’s rebel coalition is advancing towards the capital, Damascus, following a rapid offensive that has seen anti-regime forces make significant gains across the nation.

The rebels have announced the commencement of their “final phase” to encircle the capital. In response, the Syrian army has rejected claims of retreat, accusing the rebels of inciting fear among the populace.

In the southern region, a fresh uprising has emerged in Daraa province, where rebels assert they have taken control of a key military base as they move closer to the capital.

Meanwhile, on Syria‘s western front, rebel forces are hastening towards the significant city of Homs, prompting residents to evacuate in anticipation of potential clashes between anti-regime and government troops.

On Saturday, opposition fighters infiltrated the town of Kanaker, located in the outskirts of Damascus, as the rebel coalition continued its approach to the capital.

Footage geolocated by CNN captures the sound of gunfire, followed by armed individuals raising their weapons skyward.

The rebel coalition is engaged in combat with the forces of President Bashar al-Assad from both the northern and southern extremes of the country, effectively surrounding Damascus.

While the rebels’ assertion of encircling the capital has not been independently verified by CNN, it coincides with observable progress in the southwestern city of Daraa, the epicenter of the uprising that began in 2011.

Further north, armed rebel factions entered the central city of Palmyra on Saturday, as anti-regime forces navigated through areas controlled by the government during a 10-day offensive.

In video footage geolocated by CNN, armed men are seen traversing a dusty, open path. Palmyra, known for its archaeological significance dating back to the Neolithic era, is a key landmark in the region.

Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad missed a critical opportunity to mend his relationship with the Syrian populace during a time when the civil war had subsided, as stated by Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.

“We had a chance during that period of relative calm in the conflict, yet Assad failed to take that opportunity to engage with and rebuild trust among his people,” Al Thani remarked during a discussion with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour at a conference in Doha, the capital of Qatar.

“We did not observe any significant efforts regarding the repatriation of refugees or reconciliation with his citizens,” he added.

Currently, rebel forces in Syria are rapidly advancing to reclaim cities that were under Assad’s control in both the northern and southern regions of the country. In the last ten days alone, opposition troops have taken at least four cities.

The Qatari prime minister, who also holds the position of foreign minister, noted that “the speed and effectiveness of their advances have surprised everyone globally.”

Al Thani emphasized the need for a political and sustainable resolution to the ongoing crisis.

“Our concerns are that this situation could lead us back into cycles of internal strife and civil war, jeopardizing Syria’s territorial integrity,” he stated. “Without a sense of urgency to establish a political framework for the current situation, it will inevitably harm and devastate what remains.”

Following the capture of Aleppo and Hama, Syrian rebel forces are now advancing rapidly from the north towards the significant city of Homs, prompting residents to evacuate in anticipation of possible confrontations between opposition and government troops.

In a different region, various rebel factions are engaged in combat against the forces of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in the southern part of the country.

These opposition groups assert that they have gained control of Daraa city in southwestern Syria, bringing them closer to the capital, Damascus.

Additionally, rebel factions representing the Druze community in the nearby city of as-Suwayda have initiated an offensive against regime forces in that area.

The southern factions differ from those in the north, which are led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), responsible for the recent captures of Aleppo and Hama during their offensive that began over a week ago. Nevertheless, all these groups share a common objective: the overthrow of Assad.