Thousands flee Syrian city of Homs as rebels advance

Thousands of people are fleeing Syria’s third-largest city, Homs, amid fears that Islamist-led rebels will continue to advance towards the capital, Damascus.

rebel Captured Hama in the north on Thursday, It is the second major blow to President Bashar al-Assad, who lost control of Aleppo last week.

Abu Mohammed al-Jawlani, leader of the Islamist militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), told residents of Homs, “Your time has come”.

Syrian rebels launched a surprise attack against the government last week and have so far captured two major cities.

They are moving south – and Homs is the next city on the road from Aleppo to Damascus.

Terrified members of President Assad’s Alawite minority are leaving Homs, as video footage shows cars crowded on the streets.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a Britain-based monitoring group, is reporting that warplanes have targeted a bridge on the road linking Homs and Hama to try to slow the rebel advance.

After the Syrian Army lost control of Hama after several days of fighting, it is unclear whether it will be able to defend Homs.

It is a strategic city that links the capital to the Alawite stronghold on the Mediterranean coast, which is Assad’s political stronghold and key to his grip on power.

More than half a million people have been killed since the civil war broke out in 2011 following a violent crackdown on peaceful pro-democracy protests by the Assad government.

The rebel offensive, which began nine days ago, is the fastest advance into the war zone by either side since the civil war.

SOHR says more than 820 people have been killed across the country so far, including 111 civilians.

Earlier, HTS fighters and their allies captured Hama central prison and released prisoners amid fierce fighting, while the army said it had redeployed troops outside the city.

Hama is home to one million people and is 110 km (70 miles) south of Aleppo, which rebels captured last week after launching a surprise offensive from their stronghold in the northwest.

President Assad has vowed to “crush” the rebels and accused Western powers of trying to redraw the map of the region, while his key allies Russia and Iran have offered him “unconditional support”.

In the past, President Assad relied on Russia and Iran to crush his opponents.

Russian warplanes have stepped up attacks on rebel-held areas, Iran-backed militias have sent fighters to reinforce government defensive lines and Iran has said it would send reinforcements to Syria if asked. Is ready.

But with both allies busy with their own affairs, it is unclear how – or if – he will be able to stop the surge that could threaten the existence of his government.

Meanwhile the UN has said the fighting is “exacerbating an already dire situation for civilians in the north of the county”.

An estimated 280,000 people have been displaced, the majority of whom are women and children, and some civilians are trapped in front-line areas and unable to reach safety.

In Aleppo, a city of two million, some public services and vital facilities – including hospitals, bakeries, power stations, water, internet and telecommunications – are disrupted or non-functional due to lack of supplies and personnel.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged “all those with influence to play their part” to end the civil war.