Barran Press
On Saturday, December 7, 2024, Syrian armed opposition announced the beginning of the "encirclement" of Damascus, stating they are just a few kilometers away from the capital. The Ministry of Defense denied any withdrawal of the army from surrounding areas.
The opposition forces have gained control over Daraa, As-Suwayda, and Quneitra, and entered the outskirts of the main city of Homs.
Hassan Abdul Ghani, a commander in the Syrian opposition's military operations, posted on "X" that their forces have started the final phase of encircling Damascus.
The opposition has claimed control over towns and cities in western and southern rural Damascus, including Quneitra, and is now less than 20 kilometers from the southern gate of the capital.
The opposition also reported that regime forces withdrew from Muadamiyat al-Sham in western rural Damascus. Local sources told "Al Jazeera Net" that Syrian government forces withdrew from their military positions in the towns of Zakia, Kanaker, Saasaa, and the artillery regiment in western rural Damascus towards the capital.
The sources added that forces withdrew from the 121st Brigade in Kanaker and the 7th Division in Zakia. They also reported that residents of Jaramana in rural Damascus were protesting and toppling a statue of former President Hafez al-Assad.
Videos shared on social media showed what was claimed to be the withdrawal of government forces from military sites and security headquarters in western rural Damascus.
Conversely, the Syrian Ministry of Defense confirmed that "there is no truth to any news regarding the withdrawal of our armed forces units from all areas of rural Damascus."
Ahmad Al-Sharaa, a leader in the opposition's joint operations, known as Abu Mohammad al-Julani, called on fighters to leave city administration to police and security, asserting that "Damascus awaits them."
In Homs, considered the capital of the Syrian revolution, Reuters reported that armed opposition entered the outskirts of the main city of Homs. The opposition confirmed they took control of the Military Engineering Faculty north of Homs and engaged in fierce battles with regime forces in the city.
The opposition reported significant collapses in the regime's defense lines in Homs city and its countryside. They had earlier announced the capture of the last village on the outskirts of Homs city and issued a final call for regime forces in the city to defect.
Recently, the opposition announced the "liberation" of the villages of Al-Mashrafa, Al-Hamrat, Al-Hamis, Sa'an al-Aswad, Ain Hussein, Eidoun, Tal al-Homer, Al-Jamalah, Az-Zaytunah, and Izz al-Din northeast of Homs, stating that "our forces behind enemy lines have begun a special operation within Homs, coinciding with a wide attack from multiple fronts."
The opposition broadcast images of their forces entering the cities of Ar-Rastan and Talbiseh, showing control of the city police station and the regime forces withdrawing from their military points.
The U.S.-backed "Free Syria Army" opposition faction took control of the ancient city of Palmyra in eastern rural Homs after clashes with regime forces. According to Anadolu Agency, the Free Syria Army, based in the al-Tanf area on the Syrian-Iraqi-Jordanian border, made significant progress against Assad's forces in Palmyra.
After clashes with regime forces, the Free Syria Army seized control of Palmyra, the town of Al-Sukhna between Homs and Deir ez-Zor, Al-Qaryatayn village, and the strategically located Jabal al-Ghurab near the Palmyra-Damascus road.
Conversely, the Syrian state news agency (SANA) quoted a military source denying that "terrorists" entered the Al-Qaryatayn area southeast of Homs, confirming that Syrian army forces remained in their positions and were fully prepared.
Away from Damascus, the Syrian armed opposition declared that the centers of Daraa, As-Suwayda, and Quneitra governorates were fully liberated.
The opposition forces seized control of Quneitra city, located southwest near the Israeli border. According to local sources, opposition factions captured Quneitra, about 60 kilometers from Damascus, after clashes with Assad's forces on Saturday morning.
Assad's forces withdrew from the city towards Damascus. The opposition also reported taking control of the Quneitra Police Command building in southwestern Syria, near the Israeli border.
A video broadcast by the opposition showed their control of Khan Arnabah in rural Quneitra, with footage of opposition fighters entering the city, removing pictures of President Bashar al-Assad, and declaring the city free of any armed regime presence.
Local sources reported that the "Free Syria Army" began a military operation to seize regime positions in Palmyra and the desert, fearing an advance by ISIS. They indicated that the Free Syria Army also captured weapons and equipment in the Syrian desert after clashes with local regime forces.
Opposition forces also took full control of As-Suwayda Governorate in southern Syria. Local factions announced in a morning statement that they captured the Air Force Intelligence Division, the Criminal Security Branch, and the 405th Special Forces Regiment after regime elements defected.
Earlier, local factions in As-Suwayda reported taking the city police command and the central prison. They attacked regime forces at the Shahba checkpoint, north of As-Suwayda city.
Reuters quoted "armed Druze factions" confirming their control over most army bases in As-Suwayda (southern Syria) near the Jordanian border, leaving only one main base north of As-Suwayda city.
The Khalkhalah airbase north of the governorate's capital, in the predominantly Druze area, remained under army control, with forces regrouping. The sources told Reuters that the army's special forces unit in the city experienced mass defections.
The sources added that hundreds of army soldiers are now sheltering in Druze community locations.
In southern Syria, the opposition's southern operations room took full control of Daraa city's neighborhoods on Friday. The military operations administration confirmed control over the Amman-Damascus highway and Izraa, one of the province's largest cities. They cut off regime supply routes in the city and their fighters entered the Nasib border crossing with Jordan, taking the 52nd Brigade in eastern Daraa countryside.
The opposition's control over the city came after regime elements withdrew towards Izraa, north of Daraa.
The Syrian state news agency quoted the Syrian Armed Forces General Command, stating that army forces in Daraa and As-Suwayda executed redeployment and repositioning, establishing a security cordon in that direction.
The Syrian army, in a statement, said that "terrorist elements" attacked army checkpoints and positions, which began regaining control in Homs and Hama. They stated that Syrian forces handle the events with the nation's and citizens' security in mind.
Syrian television quoted a military source saying they were shelling "terrorists" in Hama and Homs countryside with artillery and rockets, achieving hits.
The same source stated that Syrian and Russian aircraft struck "terrorist gatherings" in northeastern Homs countryside.
On November 27, clashes erupted between regime forces and opposition factions in western rural Aleppo. The factions gained control of Aleppo city center on November 30 and fully captured Idlib Governorate in the northwest.
On Thursday, opposition factions expelled regime forces from Hama Governorate in central Syria after fierce clashes between both sides.