BEIRUT, Dec 6 (Alliance News): The central Syrian city of Homs has seen a mass exodus of residents overnight as rebel forces, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, pushed forward in their campaign against President Bashar al-Assad’s government.
This advance follows the rebels’ capture of key cities, including Aleppo and Hama, marking significant setbacks for Assad nearly 14 years after the onset of anti-government protests.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based monitoring group, reported that thousands of people fled to western coastal regions, a stronghold of government forces, fearing the rapid progress of the rebels. A resident in the coastal region confirmed the influx of displaced people from Homs.
In response, Russian airstrikes targeted and destroyed the Rustan bridge on the vital M5 highway, a crucial route to Homs, with at least eight strikes reported.
A Syrian army officer stated that government forces were sending reinforcements to the city to defend against the advancing rebels.
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham has pledged to continue their offensive southward toward Homs, a strategic city connecting Damascus with northern Syria and Assad’s coastal stronghold.
The rebel operations room urged Homs residents to rise up, declaring, “Your time has come.”
