Published on 08/12/2024 10:49
Reading time: 1min – video: 2min
Offensive in Syria: the rebels are said to be at the gates of Damascus
Offensive in Syria: the rebels are said to be at the gates of Damascus
(franceinfo)
After taking control of Aleppo and Hama, Syrian rebels reportedly entered Homs on Saturday and surrounded the capital. The authorities of the Bashar al-Assad regime nevertheless wanted to be reassuring.
In the suburbs of Damascus (Syria), a statue was toppled. That of Hafez el-Assad, former president and father of Bashar al-Assad. The rebels claim to have started surround the capital, while the authorities want to be reassuring, affirming that the president is still in Damascus. “I tell citizens that there is a very strong military security cordon on the remote outskirts of Damascus and its countryside, no one can penetrate this line of defense”said Mohammed al-Rahmoun, Syrian Interior Minister. In the city, residents remain cautious and stockpile medicine and food as the rebels approach.
Since November 27, rebels have taken control of Aleppo, the country's second city, and Hama, in the center. They claim to have returned to Homs on Saturday evening, which the Minister of Defense denies. The fighting is spreading across the country. In Salamiya, residents confide their relief at the prospect of the fall of the regime: “We suffered oppression from the regime and were arrested many times. Today we are very happy that the regime is falling.”
Watch the full report in the video above.
