Syrian rebels advance on Damascus as Assad’s regime falters; IDF strikes chemical weapons facility and deploys tanks on border

Syria rebels declare Damascus ‘free’; President Assad flees

Syrian rebel forces led by the Islamist faction Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) have reportedly advanced closer to the Syrian capital Damascus, marking the most significant threat to President Bashar al-Assad’s regime since the Syrian civil war erupted in 2011. According to reports from Reuters, Assad boarded a plane and fled to an undisclosed location as the rebels pressed forward.

IDF strikes Syrian chemical weapons facility

Israeli media, citing Syrian sources, reported that the IDF struck a chemical weapons facility linked to former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime to prevent it from falling into rebel hands. Meanwhile, Israeli tanks were deployed along the Golan Heights near the Syrian border.

Rebel advances across Syria

HTS announced late last night that its forces had entered Homs, Syria’s third-largest city, forcing a retreat by the Syrian army to its outskirts. Homs serves as a strategic link between Damascus and the coastal provinces of Tartus and Latakia, which are historically Assad’s strongholds. Its fall effectively isolates Damascus from critical support routes.

HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Jolani declared, “We are on the threshold of Homs and Damascus, and the toppling of the criminal regime is close.”

Simultaneously, newly unified rebel factions under the “Southern Operations Room” seized Daraa province, the cradle of the 2011 uprising, and declared intentions to march on Damascus. Videos from Daraa showed rebels tearing down statues of Hafez al-Assad, Bashar’s father and predecessor.

Additionally, opposition forces have gained control of Sweida, a Druze-majority southwestern city, and Quneitra near the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, tightening the noose around the capital.

Syrian opposition forces also reportedly freed all the detainees from Damascus’ notorious Sednaya jail, announcing an “end of the era of tyranny in the prison of Sednaya”.

International fallout and regional impact

The regime’s collapse could dramatically reshape the Middle East. Iran, Assad’s key regional ally, reportedly evacuated military commanders and diplomatic staff, signaling waning support. Hezbollah, Tehran’s proxy militia, has pulled back from Damascus and Homs, according to AFP reports.

Russia, another crucial backer of Assad, appears unable to intervene, with its military heavily committed to the conflict in Ukraine. Without Russian air support, which had been decisive in earlier phases of the war, Assad’s forces are left increasingly vulnerable.

Meanwhile, Israel faces an uncertain future as a rebel-controlled Syria could create new security challenges along its borders. Already engaged in conflicts with Iran-backed Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, Israel now faces potential threats from Syrian rebels.

Humanitarian crisis deepens

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported over 370,000 displaced in just one week of intensified fighting. The US Embassy in Syria has urged all American nationals to leave the country immediately, while India has issued a travel advisory warning its citizens against visiting Syria.

Turkey, a backer of certain rebel factions, called for an end to the escalating violence. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed concerns over civilian safety and urged both sides to cease hostilities.

Chemical weapons concerns

US intelligence agencies are closely monitoring suspected chemical weapons storage sites amid fears that Assad could resort to deploying such weapons as a last-ditch effort to defend Damascus. The Assad regime has been accused of chemical attacks in the past, notably the 2013 Ghouta attack that killed over 300 civilians and the 2017 Khan Shaykhun attack, which left more than 100 dead. Multiple United Nations investigations have confirmed the use of chemical weapons by Assad’s forces over the years.

A nation on the brink

With Syrian troops surrendering without a fight in some areas and symbols of Assad’s rule being toppled across the country, the end of the Assad regime seems increasingly likely. What comes next, however, remains uncertain, with international powers monitoring the rapidly evolving situation and preparing for potential fallout.

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