{"id":134165,"date":"2024-12-07T01:24:46","date_gmt":"2024-12-06T18:24:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/?p=134165"},"modified":"2024-12-07T01:24:46","modified_gmt":"2024-12-06T18:24:46","slug":"syria-civil-war-live-updates-syrian-rebels-seize-control-of-deir-ezzor-as-assad-troops-withdraw","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/?p=134165","title":{"rendered":"Syria Civil War Live Updates: Syrian Rebels Seize Control of Deir Ezzor as Assad Troops Withdraw"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"fluid\"\r\n     data-ad-layout-key=\"-fb+5w+4e-db+86\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"7910942971\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"live-item live-summary first live-blog-37818\">\n<p>The U.S.-backed<a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/topic\/syria\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> Syrian <\/a>rebel forces have seized the eastern city of Deir ez-Zor in the latest setback for President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/topic\/bashar-al-assad\">Bashar al-Assad<\/a>.<a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/topic\/iran\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> Iran<\/a>-backed Syrian government forces are now withdrawing from the area, Reuters reports. &#8220;Syrian forces and their Iran-backed allies completely withdrew from areas they control in Deir Ezzor province and Kurdish forces are advancing towards their areas,&#8221; said Rami Abdel Rahman, who leads the war watchdog group Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, according to Agence France-Presse (AFP). The rebels, led by the insurgent group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS),<a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/syrian-insurgents-advance-homs-capture-2-key-central-towns-1996567\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> are also advancing on country&#8217;s third-largest city, Hom<\/a>, one day after they seized control of Hama, Syria&#8217;s fourth-largest city. HTS, which has been at the forefront of the assault, has vowed to march south toward Homs and ultimately Damascus, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/topic\/bashar-al-assad\">Assad<\/a>&#8216;s seat of power.<\/p>\n<p>Follow Newsweek&#8217;s live blog for updates.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"live-item live-blog-37857\">\n            <a name=\"live-blog-37857\"\/> \t\t\t<a href=\"#live-blog-37857\" class=\"live-blog-time\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<time>  01:16 PM EST<\/time><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n<h3>Russian airstrikes destroys major bridge into Homs to slow rebel advance<\/h3>\n<p>Russia has bombed Syria&#8217;s Rustan Bridge in an attempt to slow rebel forces from entering Homs city, a Syrian army officer told Reuters.<\/p>\n<p>Moscow launched multiple air strikes overnight on Thursday to destroy the bridge on the main route into the city.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;There were at least eight strikes on the bridge,&#8221; he added. Government forces were working to strengthen positions around Homs city with fresh reinforcements, the officer told Reuters.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"live-item live-blog-37854\">\n            <a name=\"live-blog-37854\"\/> \t\t\t<a href=\"#live-blog-37854\" class=\"live-blog-time\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<time>  01:00 PM EST<\/time><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n<h3>What role does Turkey play in the Syrian civil war?<\/h3>\n<figure class=\"imageBox\" style=\"\">&#13;<br \/>\n&#13;<\/p>\n<div class=\"innerBox ar23-innerBox\" style=\"height:0;padding-bottom:66.68%\">\n<picture class=\"mapping-embed\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" media=\"(min-width: 992px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2534867\/syrias-president-bashar-al-assad.webp?w=737&amp;f=9314935fdce6061ddb922978116171b2 1x\"><source type=\"image\/jpeg\" media=\"(min-width: 992px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2534867\/syrias-president-bashar-al-assad.jpg?w=737&amp;f=9314935fdce6061ddb922978116171b2 1x\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2534867\/syrias-president-bashar-al-assad.webp?w=961&amp;f=edbf2584784d5dde11b78409a106a362 1x\"><source type=\"image\/jpeg\" media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2534867\/syrias-president-bashar-al-assad.jpg?w=961&amp;f=edbf2584784d5dde11b78409a106a362 1x\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" media=\"(min-width: 481px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2534867\/syrias-president-bashar-al-assad.webp?w=737&amp;f=9314935fdce6061ddb922978116171b2 1x\"><source type=\"image\/jpeg\" media=\"(min-width: 481px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2534867\/syrias-president-bashar-al-assad.jpg?w=737&amp;f=9314935fdce6061ddb922978116171b2 1x\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" media=\"(min-width: 0px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2534867\/syrias-president-bashar-al-assad.webp?w=450&amp;f=dad4bcf84ed97f6878a32a8a45797fc4 1x\"><source type=\"image\/jpeg\" media=\"(min-width: 0px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2534867\/syrias-president-bashar-al-assad.jpg?w=450&amp;f=dad4bcf84ed97f6878a32a8a45797fc4 1x\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2534867\/syrias-president-bashar-al-assad.webp\"><img decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\" class=\"mapping-embed imgPhoto\" id=\"i2534867\" src=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2534867\/syrias-president-bashar-al-assad.jpg\" alt=\"Syria's President Bashar al-Assad \"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n&#13;<figcaption class=\"caption ar23-caption\">&#13;<br \/>\n            <span class=\"cap\" id=\"short-cap-description\">A portrait of Syria&#8217;s President Bashar al-Assad is torn down in Aleppo on November 30, 2024. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) jihadists and their Turkish-backed allies breached Syria&#8217;s second city in an insurgency against the Assad&#8230;<\/span>&#13;<br \/>\n        <span class=\"cap\" id=\"full-cap-description\" style=\"display: none;\">A portrait of Syria&#8217;s President Bashar al-Assad is torn down in Aleppo on November 30, 2024. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) jihadists and their Turkish-backed allies breached Syria&#8217;s second city in an insurgency against the Assad regime. <\/span>&#13;<br \/>\n                    <button onclick=\"toggleCap(this)\" id=\"read-more-cap\">More<\/button>&#13;<br \/>\n                        <span class=\"credit ar23-credit\">MOHAMMED AL-RIFAI\/Getty Images<\/span>&#13;<br \/>\n    <\/figcaption>&#13;<br \/>\n&#13;<br \/>\n&#13;<br \/>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Key to any resolution of the hostilities is Turkey, which backs the Free Syrian Army fighting alongside HTS. &#8220;The attack could not have taken place without Turkey&#8217;s tacit approval,&#8221; Middle East analyst Avi Melamed told <em>Newsweek<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>During the Syrian civil war, Ankara established a zone of control in the north of the country via proxy forces based on Syrian rebel groups. Turkey has been unable to resolve the issue of Kurdish autonomy in northeast Syria (Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria or AANES), which Ankara views as a direct threat due to groups there it deems to be linked to the Kurdistan Workers&#8217; Party (PKK).<\/p>\n<p>The influx of Syrian refugees into Turkey has strained its economy and created a significant political challenge for President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/topic\/recep-tayyip-erdogan\">Recep Tayyip Erdo\u011fan<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The rebel successes present a renewed threat to Assad&#8217;s regime, which had stabilized its grip on parts of Syria in recent years,&#8221; said Melamed. &#8220;Turkey is likely to halt the rebels&#8217; advance once the risks to its broader interests\u2014particularly relations with Russia and the U.S.\u2014outweigh the gains from this military campaign.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/syria-assad-turkey-insurgency-russia-iran-middle-east-1994813\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read in full from Brendan Cole on Newsweek.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"live-item live-blog-37851\">\n            <a name=\"live-blog-37851\"\/> \t\t\t<a href=\"#live-blog-37851\" class=\"live-blog-time\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<time>  12:34 PM EST<\/time><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n<h3>Iran will support Syria &#8216;with whatever is needed&#8217;<\/h3>\n<figure class=\"imageBox\" style=\"\">&#13;<br \/>\n&#13;<\/p>\n<div class=\"innerBox ar23-innerBox\" style=\"height:0;padding-bottom:66.6667%\">\n<picture class=\"mapping-embed\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" media=\"(min-width: 992px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2494164\/iranian-foreign-minister-abbas-araghchi.webp?w=737&amp;f=4c7b10c4b9ff89bf65ecc8428e13f4ae 1x\"><source type=\"image\/jpeg\" media=\"(min-width: 992px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2494164\/iranian-foreign-minister-abbas-araghchi.jpg?w=737&amp;f=4c7b10c4b9ff89bf65ecc8428e13f4ae 1x\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2494164\/iranian-foreign-minister-abbas-araghchi.webp?w=961&amp;f=f7255c3f5c3c3d59d240c11cc9ffab60 1x\"><source type=\"image\/jpeg\" media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2494164\/iranian-foreign-minister-abbas-araghchi.jpg?w=961&amp;f=f7255c3f5c3c3d59d240c11cc9ffab60 1x\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" media=\"(min-width: 481px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2494164\/iranian-foreign-minister-abbas-araghchi.webp?w=737&amp;f=4c7b10c4b9ff89bf65ecc8428e13f4ae 1x\"><source type=\"image\/jpeg\" media=\"(min-width: 481px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2494164\/iranian-foreign-minister-abbas-araghchi.jpg?w=737&amp;f=4c7b10c4b9ff89bf65ecc8428e13f4ae 1x\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" media=\"(min-width: 0px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2494164\/iranian-foreign-minister-abbas-araghchi.webp?w=450&amp;f=eb82256aa459f95be9c7698723980af9 1x\"><source type=\"image\/jpeg\" media=\"(min-width: 0px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2494164\/iranian-foreign-minister-abbas-araghchi.jpg?w=450&amp;f=eb82256aa459f95be9c7698723980af9 1x\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2494164\/iranian-foreign-minister-abbas-araghchi.webp\"><img decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\" class=\"mapping-embed imgPhoto\" id=\"i2494164\" src=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2494164\/iranian-foreign-minister-abbas-araghchi.jpg\" alt=\"Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n&#13;<figcaption class=\"caption ar23-caption\">&#13;<br \/>\n            <span class=\"cap\" id=\"short-cap-description\">Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi meets with Lebanon&#8217;s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati (not pictured) in Beirut on October 4, 2024.<\/span>&#13;<br \/>\n        <span class=\"cap\" id=\"full-cap-description\" style=\"display: none;\">Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi meets with Lebanon&#8217;s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati (not pictured) in Beirut on October 4, 2024.<\/span>&#13;<br \/>\n                        <span class=\"credit ar23-credit\">Fadel Itani\/AFP via Getty Images<\/span>&#13;<br \/>\n    <\/figcaption>&#13;<br \/>\n&#13;<br \/>\n&#13;<br \/>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said that Iran will support Syria &#8220;with whatever is needed&#8221; as rebel forces advance across the country, Agence France-Presse reports.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The Islamic Republic of Iran has always supported Syria and will continue to do so with all its might and with whatever is needed and requested by the Syrian government,&#8221; Araghchi said today, in Baghdad.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"live-item live-blog-37849\">\n            <a name=\"live-blog-37849\"\/> \t\t\t<a href=\"#live-blog-37849\" class=\"live-blog-time\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<time>  12:24 PM EST<\/time><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n<h3>Iran points finger at US and Ukraine for Syrian rebels&#8217; advances<\/h3>\n<figure class=\"imageBox\" style=\"\">&#13;<br \/>\n&#13;<\/p>\n<div class=\"innerBox ar23-innerBox\" style=\"height:0;padding-bottom:66.68%\">\n<picture class=\"mapping-embed\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" media=\"(min-width: 992px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2537836\/syria.webp?w=737&amp;f=162be03005fecb0f989bdfb08039ea8f 1x\"><source type=\"image\/jpeg\" media=\"(min-width: 992px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2537836\/syria.jpg?w=737&amp;f=162be03005fecb0f989bdfb08039ea8f 1x\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2537836\/syria.webp?w=961&amp;f=f59aebbf4a592bab77988c5cc1e36c03 1x\"><source type=\"image\/jpeg\" media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2537836\/syria.jpg?w=961&amp;f=f59aebbf4a592bab77988c5cc1e36c03 1x\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" media=\"(min-width: 481px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2537836\/syria.webp?w=737&amp;f=162be03005fecb0f989bdfb08039ea8f 1x\"><source type=\"image\/jpeg\" media=\"(min-width: 481px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2537836\/syria.jpg?w=737&amp;f=162be03005fecb0f989bdfb08039ea8f 1x\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" media=\"(min-width: 0px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2537836\/syria.webp?w=450&amp;f=fa322161a7d09de9b581881ba0768129 1x\"><source type=\"image\/jpeg\" media=\"(min-width: 0px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2537836\/syria.jpg?w=450&amp;f=fa322161a7d09de9b581881ba0768129 1x\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2537836\/syria.webp\"><img decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\" class=\"mapping-embed imgPhoto\" id=\"i2537836\" src=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2537836\/syria.jpg\" alt=\"Syria \"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n&#13;<figcaption class=\"caption ar23-caption\">&#13;<br \/>\n            <span class=\"cap\" id=\"short-cap-description\">An anti-government fighter shoots into the air in Hama, a day after rebels captured the central-west city, on December 6, 2024. On December 6, 2024, an Iranian official criticized Ukraine in their support for Syrian&#8230;<\/span>&#13;<br \/>\n        <span class=\"cap\" id=\"full-cap-description\" style=\"display: none;\">An anti-government fighter shoots into the air in Hama, a day after rebels captured the central-west city, on December 6, 2024. On December 6, 2024, an Iranian official criticized Ukraine in their support for Syrian rebel groups. <\/span>&#13;<br \/>\n                    <button onclick=\"toggleCap(this)\" id=\"read-more-cap\">More<\/button>&#13;<br \/>\n                        <span class=\"credit ar23-credit\">MOHAMMED AL-RIFAI\/AFP via Getty Images\/Getty Images<\/span>&#13;<br \/>\n    <\/figcaption>&#13;<br \/>\n&#13;<br \/>\n&#13;<br \/>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Iran has blamed the United States and Ukraine for recent advances made by Syrian rebels in a surprise offensive against the Syrian government.<\/p>\n<p>On Friday, the Iranian-state affiliated Mehr News Agency reported that Mojtaba Damirchiloo, an aide to Iran&#8217;s foreign minister, criticized Ukraine and the U.S. for supporting &#8220;terrorism&#8221; in Syria.<\/p>\n<p>In particular, the report outlined how the Iranian official condemned &#8220;the illegal trade of weapons received from the United States by some Ukrainian officials and Ukraine&#8217;s support for listed terrorist groups in Syria.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Referencing the use of Takfiri\u2014or foreign militant groups\u2014to operate in Syria against the Assad regime, Damirchiloo condemned the deployment of these fighters, which he said was leading to the destabilization of the West Asia region. He described this approach as an unethical policy that violates established principles and norms of international law.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/syria-rebels-advacements-iran-blames-ukraine-1996642\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read in full from Matthew Impelli on Newsweek.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"live-item live-blog-37847\">\n            <a name=\"live-blog-37847\"\/> \t\t\t<a href=\"#live-blog-37847\" class=\"live-blog-time\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<time>  12:16 PM EST<\/time><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n<h3>Syrian fighters capture major army base in Daraa province<\/h3>\n<p>Syrian opposition fighters have captured one of the main army bases in the Daraa province, Reuters reports.<\/p>\n<p>The insurgents overrun the Liwa 52 base, near the town of Herak, on Friday morning as fighting in Syria escalates.<\/p>\n<p>Rebel sources also told Reuters they had seized the Nassib border crossing with Jordan.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"live-item live-blog-37846\">\n            <a name=\"live-blog-37846\"\/> \t\t\t<a href=\"#live-blog-37846\" class=\"live-blog-time\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<time>  12:09 PM EST<\/time><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n<h3>Death toll in Syria reaches 826 in rebel uprising, says watchdog<\/h3>\n<p>The conflict in Syria has killed 826 people since the huge rebel offensive began last week, according to a war watchdog.<\/p>\n<p>The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK based organization which relies on sources in Syria, said the death toll included 111 civilians.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"live-item live-blog-37845\">\n            <a name=\"live-blog-37845\"\/> \t\t\t<a href=\"#live-blog-37845\" class=\"live-blog-time\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<time>  12:05 PM EST<\/time><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n<h3>Which countries support Syria&#8217;s rebel groups?<\/h3>\n<p>Syria is supported by Russia, which has a naval base in Tarus and provides airstrikes to assist Assad&#8217;s forces. Iran has a considerable military presence in the country and Iran-backed militias, notably from Iraq, have joined the ground fighting.<\/p>\n<p>In response to the military setbacks, Syria&#8217;s defense minister, General Ali Mahmoud Abbas, insisted the withdrawal from Hama was a &#8220;tactical measure&#8221; and vowed to reclaim the lost territory.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking in a televised address on Thursday, Abbas described the rebels as &#8220;takfiri&#8221;\u2014a derogatory term for extremists\u2014and accused them of being backed by foreign powers, a likely reference to Turkey and the U.S., both of which support opposition forces.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We are in a strong position,&#8221; Abbas declared. &#8220;This is only a temporary setback, and we will regain control over Hama.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The coalition leading the charge\u2014HTS alongside the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army\u2014has reignited the long-dormant conflict, challenging Assad&#8217;s forces in regions once considered firmly under government control.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/syrian-insurgents-advance-homs-capture-2-key-central-towns-1996567\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read in full from Shamim Chowdhury on Newsweek.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"live-item live-blog-37842\">\n            <a name=\"live-blog-37842\"\/> \t\t\t<a href=\"#live-blog-37842\" class=\"live-blog-time\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<time>  11:55 AM EST<\/time><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n<h3>IN PICTURES: Insurgents takeover Hama<\/h3>\n<p>A series of pictures has captured the insurgent takeover of the Syrian city of Hama.<\/p>\n<p>In one picture, Syrian opposition fighters stand atop a seized Syrian Air Force fighter plane at the Hama military airport.<\/p>\n<p>An insurgent fires his AK-47 in the air in celebration of taking the city, in another.<\/p>\n<p>In an image taken today, a poster of Syrian President Bashar Assad is seen riddled with bullets on the facade of the provincial government office in Hama.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"imageBox\" style=\"\">&#13;<br \/>\n&#13;<\/p>\n<div class=\"innerBox ar23-innerBox\" style=\"height:0;padding-bottom:66.68%\">\n<picture class=\"mapping-embed\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" media=\"(min-width: 992px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2538156\/insurgent-fighters-celebrate-takeover-hama.webp?w=790&amp;f=c7dc83314a089044264df681591c3d73 1x\"><source type=\"image\/jpeg\" media=\"(min-width: 992px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2538156\/insurgent-fighters-celebrate-takeover-hama.jpg?w=790&amp;f=c7dc83314a089044264df681591c3d73 1x\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2538156\/insurgent-fighters-celebrate-takeover-hama.webp?w=900&amp;f=ed7d2d6d41be977a9157da5c8029d63e 1x\"><source type=\"image\/jpeg\" media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2538156\/insurgent-fighters-celebrate-takeover-hama.jpg?w=900&amp;f=ed7d2d6d41be977a9157da5c8029d63e 1x\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" media=\"(min-width: 481px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2538156\/insurgent-fighters-celebrate-takeover-hama.webp?w=790&amp;f=c7dc83314a089044264df681591c3d73 1x\"><source type=\"image\/jpeg\" media=\"(min-width: 481px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2538156\/insurgent-fighters-celebrate-takeover-hama.jpg?w=790&amp;f=c7dc83314a089044264df681591c3d73 1x\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" media=\"(min-width: 0px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2538156\/insurgent-fighters-celebrate-takeover-hama.webp?w=450&amp;f=aacb4296586e7b801a261c667fd46e2e 1x\"><source type=\"image\/jpeg\" media=\"(min-width: 0px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2538156\/insurgent-fighters-celebrate-takeover-hama.jpg?w=450&amp;f=aacb4296586e7b801a261c667fd46e2e 1x\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2538156\/insurgent-fighters-celebrate-takeover-hama.webp?w=1200&amp;f=57fdb6be3ff5e14d870a116a5816854f\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"mapping-embed imgPhoto\" id=\"i2538156\" src=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2538156\/insurgent-fighters-celebrate-takeover-hama.jpg?w=1200&amp;f=57fdb6be3ff5e14d870a116a5816854f\" alt=\"Insurgent fighters celebrate takeover of Hama\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n&#13;<figcaption class=\"caption ar23-caption\">&#13;<br \/>\n            <span class=\"cap\" id=\"short-cap-description\">Insurgent fighters celebrate in the aftermath of the opposition&#8217;s takeover of the city in downtown Hama, Syria, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (AP Photo\/Omar Albam)<\/span>&#13;<br \/>\n        <span class=\"cap\" id=\"full-cap-description\" style=\"display: none;\">Insurgent fighters celebrate in the aftermath of the opposition&#8217;s takeover of the city in downtown Hama, Syria, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (AP Photo\/Omar Albam)<\/span>&#13;<br \/>\n                        <span class=\"credit ar23-credit\">Omar Albam\/AP<\/span>&#13;<br \/>\n    <\/figcaption>&#13;<br \/>\n&#13;<br \/>\n&#13;<br \/>\n<\/figure>\n<figure class=\"imageBox\" style=\"\">&#13;<br \/>\n&#13;<\/p>\n<div class=\"innerBox ar23-innerBox\" style=\"height:0;padding-bottom:66.68%\">\n<picture class=\"mapping-embed\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" media=\"(min-width: 992px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2538158\/seized-syrian-air-force-planes.webp?w=790&amp;f=9341316fd40936752c632ad32570f507 1x\"><source type=\"image\/jpeg\" media=\"(min-width: 992px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2538158\/seized-syrian-air-force-planes.jpg?w=790&amp;f=9341316fd40936752c632ad32570f507 1x\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2538158\/seized-syrian-air-force-planes.webp?w=900&amp;f=f311983c66df204120ca0f0529bd255e 1x\"><source type=\"image\/jpeg\" media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2538158\/seized-syrian-air-force-planes.jpg?w=900&amp;f=f311983c66df204120ca0f0529bd255e 1x\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" media=\"(min-width: 481px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2538158\/seized-syrian-air-force-planes.webp?w=790&amp;f=9341316fd40936752c632ad32570f507 1x\"><source type=\"image\/jpeg\" media=\"(min-width: 481px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2538158\/seized-syrian-air-force-planes.jpg?w=790&amp;f=9341316fd40936752c632ad32570f507 1x\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" media=\"(min-width: 0px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2538158\/seized-syrian-air-force-planes.webp?w=450&amp;f=88f9b5a6f2e50a91cd92b779eb3f6e6b 1x\"><source type=\"image\/jpeg\" media=\"(min-width: 0px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2538158\/seized-syrian-air-force-planes.jpg?w=450&amp;f=88f9b5a6f2e50a91cd92b779eb3f6e6b 1x\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2538158\/seized-syrian-air-force-planes.webp?w=1200&amp;f=699990b64936919411216ef73fc24a31\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"mapping-embed imgPhoto\" id=\"i2538158\" src=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2538158\/seized-syrian-air-force-planes.jpg?w=1200&amp;f=699990b64936919411216ef73fc24a31\" alt=\"Seized Syrian Air Force planes\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n&#13;<figcaption class=\"caption ar23-caption\">&#13;<br \/>\n            <span class=\"cap\" id=\"short-cap-description\">Seized Syrian Air Force planes are seen in the aftermath of the opposition&#8217;s takeover of the city at the Hama military airport, Syria, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (AP Photo\/Ghaith Alsayed)<\/span>&#13;<br \/>\n        <span class=\"cap\" id=\"full-cap-description\" style=\"display: none;\">Seized Syrian Air Force planes are seen in the aftermath of the opposition&#8217;s takeover of the city at the Hama military airport, Syria, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (AP Photo\/Ghaith Alsayed)<\/span>&#13;<br \/>\n                        <span class=\"credit ar23-credit\">Ghaith Alsayed\/AP<\/span>&#13;<br \/>\n    <\/figcaption>&#13;<br \/>\n&#13;<br \/>\n&#13;<br \/>\n<\/figure>\n<figure class=\"imageBox\" style=\"\">&#13;<br \/>\n&#13;<\/p>\n<div class=\"innerBox ar23-innerBox\" style=\"height:0;padding-bottom:66.68%\">\n<picture class=\"mapping-embed\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" media=\"(min-width: 992px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2538164\/syrian-fighters-stand-atop-seized-plane.webp?w=790&amp;f=7d8f85fd72ac376a0f1194bb17e94c7e 1x\"><source type=\"image\/jpeg\" media=\"(min-width: 992px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2538164\/syrian-fighters-stand-atop-seized-plane.jpg?w=790&amp;f=7d8f85fd72ac376a0f1194bb17e94c7e 1x\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2538164\/syrian-fighters-stand-atop-seized-plane.webp?w=900&amp;f=f93b53e290e85e79fa6e8ab0415b52e0 1x\"><source type=\"image\/jpeg\" media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2538164\/syrian-fighters-stand-atop-seized-plane.jpg?w=900&amp;f=f93b53e290e85e79fa6e8ab0415b52e0 1x\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" media=\"(min-width: 481px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2538164\/syrian-fighters-stand-atop-seized-plane.webp?w=790&amp;f=7d8f85fd72ac376a0f1194bb17e94c7e 1x\"><source type=\"image\/jpeg\" media=\"(min-width: 481px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2538164\/syrian-fighters-stand-atop-seized-plane.jpg?w=790&amp;f=7d8f85fd72ac376a0f1194bb17e94c7e 1x\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" media=\"(min-width: 0px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2538164\/syrian-fighters-stand-atop-seized-plane.webp?w=450&amp;f=2c511dc2b433b11939fc0962c1603145 1x\"><source type=\"image\/jpeg\" media=\"(min-width: 0px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2538164\/syrian-fighters-stand-atop-seized-plane.jpg?w=450&amp;f=2c511dc2b433b11939fc0962c1603145 1x\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2538164\/syrian-fighters-stand-atop-seized-plane.webp?w=1200&amp;f=6562182c6b08f3d7bd86f4c406494a67\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"mapping-embed imgPhoto\" id=\"i2538164\" src=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2538164\/syrian-fighters-stand-atop-seized-plane.jpg?w=1200&amp;f=6562182c6b08f3d7bd86f4c406494a67\" alt=\"Syrian fighters stand atop seized plane\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n&#13;<figcaption class=\"caption ar23-caption\">&#13;<br \/>\n            <span class=\"cap\" id=\"short-cap-description\">Syrian opposition fighters stand atop a seized Syrian Air Force fighter plane at the Hama military airport, Syria, Friday Dec. 6, 2024. (AP Photo\/Ghaith Alsayed)<\/span>&#13;<br \/>\n        <span class=\"cap\" id=\"full-cap-description\" style=\"display: none;\">Syrian opposition fighters stand atop a seized Syrian Air Force fighter plane at the Hama military airport, Syria, Friday Dec. 6, 2024. (AP Photo\/Ghaith Alsayed)<\/span>&#13;<br \/>\n                        <span class=\"credit ar23-credit\">Ghaith Alsayed\/AP<\/span>&#13;<br \/>\n    <\/figcaption>&#13;<br \/>\n&#13;<br \/>\n&#13;<br \/>\n<\/figure>\n<figure class=\"imageBox\" style=\"\">&#13;<br \/>\n&#13;<\/p>\n<div class=\"innerBox ar23-innerBox\" style=\"height:0;padding-bottom:69.247%\">\n<picture class=\"mapping-embed\" width=\"1200\" height=\"831\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" media=\"(min-width: 992px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2538166\/poster-assad-riddled-bullets.webp?w=790&amp;f=baf9b0a8261dcbbf9e32492dcbd57278 1x\"><source type=\"image\/jpeg\" media=\"(min-width: 992px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2538166\/poster-assad-riddled-bullets.jpg?w=790&amp;f=baf9b0a8261dcbbf9e32492dcbd57278 1x\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2538166\/poster-assad-riddled-bullets.webp?w=900&amp;f=a96203816ffe188ffde9d588161ac616 1x\"><source type=\"image\/jpeg\" media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2538166\/poster-assad-riddled-bullets.jpg?w=900&amp;f=a96203816ffe188ffde9d588161ac616 1x\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" media=\"(min-width: 481px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2538166\/poster-assad-riddled-bullets.webp?w=790&amp;f=baf9b0a8261dcbbf9e32492dcbd57278 1x\"><source type=\"image\/jpeg\" media=\"(min-width: 481px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2538166\/poster-assad-riddled-bullets.jpg?w=790&amp;f=baf9b0a8261dcbbf9e32492dcbd57278 1x\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" media=\"(min-width: 0px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2538166\/poster-assad-riddled-bullets.webp?w=450&amp;f=29e2f5e2b55030ba7bb3aab17c74bfb9 1x\"><source type=\"image\/jpeg\" media=\"(min-width: 0px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2538166\/poster-assad-riddled-bullets.jpg?w=450&amp;f=29e2f5e2b55030ba7bb3aab17c74bfb9 1x\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2538166\/poster-assad-riddled-bullets.webp?w=1200&amp;f=160b3d00c0941d0ed66d3bcf54a3a257\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"mapping-embed imgPhoto\" id=\"i2538166\" src=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2538166\/poster-assad-riddled-bullets.jpg?w=1200&amp;f=160b3d00c0941d0ed66d3bcf54a3a257\" alt=\"Poster of Assad riddled with bullets\" width=\"1200\" height=\"831\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n&#13;<figcaption class=\"caption ar23-caption\">&#13;<br \/>\n            <span class=\"cap\" id=\"short-cap-description\">An image of Syrian President Bashar Assad, riddled with bullets, is seen on the facade of the provincial government office in the aftermath of the opposition&#8217;s takeover of Hama, Syria, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (AP&#8230;<\/span>&#13;<br \/>\n        <span class=\"cap\" id=\"full-cap-description\" style=\"display: none;\">An image of Syrian President Bashar Assad, riddled with bullets, is seen on the facade of the provincial government office in the aftermath of the opposition&#8217;s takeover of Hama, Syria, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (AP Photo\/Omar Albam)<\/span>&#13;<br \/>\n                    <button onclick=\"toggleCap(this)\" id=\"read-more-cap\">More<\/button>&#13;<br \/>\n                        <span class=\"credit ar23-credit\">Omar Albam\/AP<\/span>&#13;<br \/>\n    <\/figcaption>&#13;<br \/>\n&#13;<br \/>\n&#13;<br \/>\n<\/figure>\n<figure class=\"imageBox\" style=\"\">&#13;<br \/>\n&#13;<\/p>\n<div class=\"innerBox ar23-innerBox\" style=\"height:0;padding-bottom:66.68%\">\n<picture class=\"mapping-embed\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" media=\"(min-width: 992px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2538169\/opposition-fighter-fires-his-ak-47.webp?w=790&amp;f=508370da8efb61bbe9205e037fff1f2f 1x\"><source type=\"image\/jpeg\" media=\"(min-width: 992px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2538169\/opposition-fighter-fires-his-ak-47.jpg?w=790&amp;f=508370da8efb61bbe9205e037fff1f2f 1x\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2538169\/opposition-fighter-fires-his-ak-47.webp?w=900&amp;f=bf1aa7855aa0c41b0a4e0dfb6e1c9b77 1x\"><source type=\"image\/jpeg\" media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2538169\/opposition-fighter-fires-his-ak-47.jpg?w=900&amp;f=bf1aa7855aa0c41b0a4e0dfb6e1c9b77 1x\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" media=\"(min-width: 481px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2538169\/opposition-fighter-fires-his-ak-47.webp?w=790&amp;f=508370da8efb61bbe9205e037fff1f2f 1x\"><source type=\"image\/jpeg\" media=\"(min-width: 481px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2538169\/opposition-fighter-fires-his-ak-47.jpg?w=790&amp;f=508370da8efb61bbe9205e037fff1f2f 1x\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" media=\"(min-width: 0px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2538169\/opposition-fighter-fires-his-ak-47.webp?w=450&amp;f=181f0770437f9599f7ce041ca0389e5f 1x\"><source type=\"image\/jpeg\" media=\"(min-width: 0px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2538169\/opposition-fighter-fires-his-ak-47.jpg?w=450&amp;f=181f0770437f9599f7ce041ca0389e5f 1x\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2538169\/opposition-fighter-fires-his-ak-47.webp?w=1200&amp;f=5adefac64f00890036fe66c4ba5f7d8b\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"mapping-embed imgPhoto\" id=\"i2538169\" src=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2538169\/opposition-fighter-fires-his-ak-47.jpg?w=1200&amp;f=5adefac64f00890036fe66c4ba5f7d8b\" alt=\"An opposition fighter fires his AK-47\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n&#13;<figcaption class=\"caption ar23-caption\">&#13;<br \/>\n            <span class=\"cap\" id=\"short-cap-description\">An opposition fighter fires his AK-47 in the air in celebration in Hama, Syria, Friday Dec. 6, 2024.(AP Photo\/Omar Albam)<\/span>&#13;<br \/>\n        <span class=\"cap\" id=\"full-cap-description\" style=\"display: none;\">An opposition fighter fires his AK-47 in the air in celebration in Hama, Syria, Friday Dec. 6, 2024.(AP Photo\/Omar Albam)<\/span>&#13;<br \/>\n                        <span class=\"credit ar23-credit\">Omar Albam\/AP<\/span>&#13;<br \/>\n    <\/figcaption>&#13;<br \/>\n&#13;<br \/>\n&#13;<br \/>\n<\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"live-item live-blog-37841\">\n            <a name=\"live-blog-37841\"\/> \t\t\t<a href=\"#live-blog-37841\" class=\"live-blog-time\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<time>  11:45 AM EST<\/time><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n<h3>How important is Homs to Syria?<\/h3>\n<figure class=\"imageBox\" style=\"\">&#13;<br \/>\n&#13;<\/p>\n<div class=\"innerBox ar23-innerBox\" style=\"height:0;padding-bottom:66.68%\">\n<picture class=\"mapping-embed\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" media=\"(min-width: 992px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2537617\/abandoned-syrian-army-tank.webp?w=737&amp;f=8a38ebb8880e51a53704490e376e003b 1x\"><source type=\"image\/jpeg\" media=\"(min-width: 992px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2537617\/abandoned-syrian-army-tank.jpg?w=737&amp;f=8a38ebb8880e51a53704490e376e003b 1x\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2537617\/abandoned-syrian-army-tank.webp?w=961&amp;f=cc763311469ef81ab275c5a80c18e613 1x\"><source type=\"image\/jpeg\" media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2537617\/abandoned-syrian-army-tank.jpg?w=961&amp;f=cc763311469ef81ab275c5a80c18e613 1x\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" media=\"(min-width: 481px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2537617\/abandoned-syrian-army-tank.webp?w=737&amp;f=8a38ebb8880e51a53704490e376e003b 1x\"><source type=\"image\/jpeg\" media=\"(min-width: 481px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2537617\/abandoned-syrian-army-tank.jpg?w=737&amp;f=8a38ebb8880e51a53704490e376e003b 1x\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" media=\"(min-width: 0px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2537617\/abandoned-syrian-army-tank.webp?w=450&amp;f=f87c5ccc4387e24456c9cff71bbef97e 1x\"><source type=\"image\/jpeg\" media=\"(min-width: 0px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2537617\/abandoned-syrian-army-tank.jpg?w=450&amp;f=f87c5ccc4387e24456c9cff71bbef97e 1x\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2537617\/abandoned-syrian-army-tank.webp\"><img decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\" class=\"mapping-embed imgPhoto\" id=\"i2537617\" src=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2537617\/abandoned-syrian-army-tank.jpg\" alt=\"Abandoned Syrian army tank\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n&#13;<figcaption class=\"caption ar23-caption\">&#13;<br \/>\n            <span class=\"cap\" id=\"short-cap-description\">Abandoned Syrian army armoured vehicles sit on a road as opposition fighters control the outskirts of Hama, Syria, December 3, 2024. They entered two central towns early on December 4, 202, just north of the&#8230;<\/span>&#13;<br \/>\n        <span class=\"cap\" id=\"full-cap-description\" style=\"display: none;\">Abandoned Syrian army armoured vehicles sit on a road as opposition fighters control the outskirts of Hama, Syria, December 3, 2024. They entered two central towns early on December 4, 202, just north of the city of Homs. <\/span>&#13;<br \/>\n                    <button onclick=\"toggleCap(this)\" id=\"read-more-cap\">More<\/button>&#13;<br \/>\n                        <span class=\"credit ar23-credit\">Ghaith Alsayed\/AP<\/span>&#13;<br \/>\n    <\/figcaption>&#13;<br \/>\n&#13;<br \/>\n&#13;<br \/>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Rami Abdurrahman, Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR)&#8217;s head, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/syrian-insurgents-advance-homs-capture-2-key-central-towns-1996567\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">called the impending battle for Homs &#8220;the mother of all battles,&#8221; suggesting that it will be decisive in determining the future of Syria.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Pro-government media outlets confirmed the insurgents&#8217; capture of Rastan and Talbiseh, reporting that the towns fell without significant resistance.<\/p>\n<p>However, there was no immediate statement from the Syrian military regarding whether it had withdrawn from these locations.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, Syrian and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/can-russia-still-save-assad-syria-1996494\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Russian air forces<\/a> launched strikes in Hama province, with state news agency <em>SANA<\/em> reporting that dozens of rebel fighters had been killed in the bombardment.<\/p>\n<p>The attack comes in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/hama-falls-insurgents-major-blow-assad-regime-1995936\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">retaliation<\/a> for the loss of Hama, a major blow to the government&#8217;s control over central Syria.<\/p>\n<p>Opposition activists in Hama reported that following the fall of the city, thousands of Assad loyalists fled southward toward the capital and coastal regions, seeking refuge from the advancing rebel forces.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"live-item live-blog-37840\">\n            <a name=\"live-blog-37840\"\/> \t\t\t<a href=\"#live-blog-37840\" class=\"live-blog-time\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<time>  11:35 AM EST<\/time><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n<h3>Syrian rebel forces enter towns north of Homs<\/h3>\n<p>Syrian rebel forces have entered towns north of the country&#8217;s third largest city, Homs.<\/p>\n<p>Spearheaded by the group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the insurgents have already captured the Aleppo, a city in the north, and the central city of Hama.<\/p>\n<p>Their eventual aim is to take the Syrian capital of Damascus.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"live-item live-blog-37837\">\n            <a name=\"live-blog-37837\"\/> \t\t\t<a href=\"#live-blog-37837\" class=\"live-blog-time\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<time>  11:29 AM EST<\/time><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n<h3>Turkish President Erdogan says he hopes rebel advance in Syria will continue<\/h3>\n<figure class=\"imageBox\" style=\"\">&#13;<br \/>\n&#13;<\/p>\n<div class=\"innerBox ar23-innerBox\" style=\"height:0;padding-bottom:66.68%\">\n<picture class=\"mapping-embed\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" media=\"(min-width: 992px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2519703\/turkish-president-recep-tayyip-erdogan.webp?w=737&amp;f=c65884266cb27c45476788c8e01ca9a1 1x\"><source type=\"image\/jpeg\" media=\"(min-width: 992px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2519703\/turkish-president-recep-tayyip-erdogan.jpg?w=737&amp;f=c65884266cb27c45476788c8e01ca9a1 1x\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2519703\/turkish-president-recep-tayyip-erdogan.webp?w=961&amp;f=1e4bfc93f85cf1ae9aed90079f4ed5ab 1x\"><source type=\"image\/jpeg\" media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2519703\/turkish-president-recep-tayyip-erdogan.jpg?w=961&amp;f=1e4bfc93f85cf1ae9aed90079f4ed5ab 1x\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" media=\"(min-width: 481px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2519703\/turkish-president-recep-tayyip-erdogan.webp?w=737&amp;f=c65884266cb27c45476788c8e01ca9a1 1x\"><source type=\"image\/jpeg\" media=\"(min-width: 481px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2519703\/turkish-president-recep-tayyip-erdogan.jpg?w=737&amp;f=c65884266cb27c45476788c8e01ca9a1 1x\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" media=\"(min-width: 0px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2519703\/turkish-president-recep-tayyip-erdogan.webp?w=450&amp;f=12dea0a8bb62b4bf585b74cfd7e5ea3d 1x\"><source type=\"image\/jpeg\" media=\"(min-width: 0px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2519703\/turkish-president-recep-tayyip-erdogan.jpg?w=450&amp;f=12dea0a8bb62b4bf585b74cfd7e5ea3d 1x\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2519703\/turkish-president-recep-tayyip-erdogan.webp\"><img decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\" class=\"mapping-embed imgPhoto\" id=\"i2519703\" src=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2519703\/turkish-president-recep-tayyip-erdogan.jpg\" alt=\"Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n&#13;<figcaption class=\"caption ar23-caption\">&#13;<br \/>\n            <span class=\"cap\" id=\"short-cap-description\">Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks during a news conference in Ankara, Turkey, Monday, May 13, 2024. <\/span>&#13;<br \/>\n        <span class=\"cap\" id=\"full-cap-description\" style=\"display: none;\">Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks during a news conference in Ankara, Turkey, Monday, May 13, 2024. <\/span>&#13;<br \/>\n                        <span class=\"credit ar23-credit\">Burhan Ozbilici\/AP Photo<\/span>&#13;<br \/>\n    <\/figcaption>&#13;<br \/>\n&#13;<br \/>\n&#13;<br \/>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said he hopes the rebel advance in Syria will continue.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;As of now, Idlib, Hama, Homs and the target is of course Damascus. This march of the opposition continues,&#8221; he told reporters outside a mosque in Istanbul.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Our wish is that this march in Syria will continue without any accidents and troubles.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"live-item live-blog-37835\">\n            <a name=\"live-blog-37835\"\/> \t\t\t<a href=\"#live-blog-37835\" class=\"live-blog-time\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<time>  11:18 AM EST<\/time><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n<h3>More than 280,000 people displaced in Syria since rebel offensive, UN warns<\/h3>\n<figure class=\"imageBox\" style=\"\">&#13;<br \/>\n&#13;<\/p>\n<div class=\"innerBox ar23-innerBox\" style=\"height:0;padding-bottom:65.6%\">\n<picture class=\"mapping-embed\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" media=\"(min-width: 992px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2535478\/united-nations.webp?w=737&amp;f=327fe2fa338f9203457e8c9cf273fe23 1x\"><source type=\"image\/jpeg\" media=\"(min-width: 992px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2535478\/united-nations.jpg?w=737&amp;f=327fe2fa338f9203457e8c9cf273fe23 1x\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2535478\/united-nations.webp?w=961&amp;f=706867fbc81189e880dc6df6fc147769 1x\"><source type=\"image\/jpeg\" media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2535478\/united-nations.jpg?w=961&amp;f=706867fbc81189e880dc6df6fc147769 1x\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" media=\"(min-width: 481px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2535478\/united-nations.webp?w=737&amp;f=327fe2fa338f9203457e8c9cf273fe23 1x\"><source type=\"image\/jpeg\" media=\"(min-width: 481px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2535478\/united-nations.jpg?w=737&amp;f=327fe2fa338f9203457e8c9cf273fe23 1x\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" media=\"(min-width: 0px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2535478\/united-nations.webp?w=450&amp;f=03b30a52e6fc941db4ed60b7a7733276 1x\"><source type=\"image\/jpeg\" media=\"(min-width: 0px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2535478\/united-nations.jpg?w=450&amp;f=03b30a52e6fc941db4ed60b7a7733276 1x\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2535478\/united-nations.webp\"><img decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\" class=\"mapping-embed imgPhoto\" id=\"i2535478\" src=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2535478\/united-nations.jpg\" alt=\"United Nations \"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n&#13;<figcaption class=\"caption ar23-caption\">&#13;<br \/>\n            <span class=\"cap\" id=\"short-cap-description\">The United Nations emblem is seen in front of the United Nations Office (UNOG) on June 8, 2008 in Geneva, Switzerland. <\/span>&#13;<br \/>\n        <span class=\"cap\" id=\"full-cap-description\" style=\"display: none;\">The United Nations emblem is seen in front of the United Nations Office (UNOG) on June 8, 2008 in Geneva, Switzerland. <\/span>&#13;<br \/>\n                        <span class=\"credit ar23-credit\">Johannes Simon\/Getty Images<\/span>&#13;<br \/>\n    <\/figcaption>&#13;<br \/>\n&#13;<br \/>\n&#13;<br \/>\n<\/figure>\n<p>More than 280,000 people have been displaced in Syria since the huge rebel offensive this week, according to the United Nations.<\/p>\n<p>Those figures could rise to 1.5 million as the fighting rapidly escalates,<a href=\"https:\/\/news.un.org\/en\/story\/2024\/12\/1157871\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"> it warned.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>UN World Food Program&#8217;s Samer AbdelJaber described the situation in Syria as &#8220;a crisis on top of another,&#8221; since the country&#8217;s civil war began in 2011.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"live-item live-blog-37833\">\n            <a name=\"live-blog-37833\"\/> \t\t\t<a href=\"#live-blog-37833\" class=\"live-blog-time\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<time>  11:09 AM EST<\/time><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n<h3>Russian embassy in Damascus warns its nationals to leave Syria<\/h3>\n<p>The Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Damascus has called on Russian nationals to leave Syria as rebels warn &#8220;our destination is Damascus.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The warning is an unusual move for Russia which remains a close ally of Syria&#8217;s president, Bashar al-Assad.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"fullCode\">&#13;<\/p>\n<div class=\"innerBox\">\n<div class=\"code\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-conversation=\"none\">\n<p lang=\"sr\" dir=\"ltr\">\u0410\u043c\u0431\u0430\u0441\u0430\u0434\u0430 \u0420\u0435\u043f\u0443\u0431\u043b\u0438\u043a\u0435 \u0421\u0440\u0431\u0438\u0458\u0435 \u0443 \u0414\u0430\u043c\u0430\u0441\u043a\u0443 \u043f\u043e\u0437\u0438\u0432\u0430 \u0441\u0432\u0435 \u0434\u0440\u0436\u0430\u0432\u0459\u0430\u043d\u0435 \u0420\u0435\u043f\u0443\u0431\u043b\u0438\u043a\u0435 \u0421\u0440\u0431\u0438\u0458\u0435 \u0434\u0430 \u0445\u0438\u0442\u043d\u043e \u043d\u0430\u043f\u0443\u0441\u0442\u0435 \u0442\u0435\u0440\u0438\u0442\u043e\u0440\u0438\u0458\u0443 \u0421\u0438\u0440\u0438\u0458\u0441\u043a\u0435 \u0410\u0440\u0430\u043f\u0441\u043a\u0435 \u0420\u0435\u043f\u0443\u0431\u043b\u0438\u043a\u0435.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Serbia in Syria (@SRBinSyria) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SRBinSyria\/status\/1865026095478718629?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">December 6, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n<\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"live-item live-blog-37832\">\n            <a name=\"live-blog-37832\"\/> \t\t\t<a href=\"#live-blog-37832\" class=\"live-blog-time\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<time>  10:57 AM EST<\/time><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n<h3>Can Russia still save Assad in Syria?<\/h3>\n<figure class=\"imageBox\" style=\"\">&#13;<br \/>\n&#13;<\/p>\n<div class=\"innerBox ar23-innerBox\" style=\"height:0;padding-bottom:66.6667%\">\n<picture class=\"mapping-embed\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" media=\"(min-width: 992px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2533032\/putin.webp?w=737&amp;f=1adc7a06af49b3629fb5a91d610ed21b 1x\"><source type=\"image\/jpeg\" media=\"(min-width: 992px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2533032\/putin.jpg?w=737&amp;f=1adc7a06af49b3629fb5a91d610ed21b 1x\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2533032\/putin.webp?w=961&amp;f=e6e080782921cba484ab0e62ff39c386 1x\"><source type=\"image\/jpeg\" media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2533032\/putin.jpg?w=961&amp;f=e6e080782921cba484ab0e62ff39c386 1x\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" media=\"(min-width: 481px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2533032\/putin.webp?w=737&amp;f=1adc7a06af49b3629fb5a91d610ed21b 1x\"><source type=\"image\/jpeg\" media=\"(min-width: 481px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2533032\/putin.jpg?w=737&amp;f=1adc7a06af49b3629fb5a91d610ed21b 1x\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" media=\"(min-width: 0px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2533032\/putin.webp?w=450&amp;f=ad2595381567d33fad84b4aa3e200b64 1x\"><source type=\"image\/jpeg\" media=\"(min-width: 0px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2533032\/putin.jpg?w=450&amp;f=ad2595381567d33fad84b4aa3e200b64 1x\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2533032\/putin.webp\"><img decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\" class=\"mapping-embed imgPhoto\" id=\"i2533032\" src=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2533032\/putin.jpg\" alt=\"Putin\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n&#13;<figcaption class=\"caption ar23-caption\">&#13;<br \/>\n            <span class=\"cap\" id=\"short-cap-description\">Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a summit of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation, in Astana, Kazakhstan, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. <\/span>&#13;<br \/>\n        <span class=\"cap\" id=\"full-cap-description\" style=\"display: none;\">Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a summit of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation, in Astana, Kazakhstan, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. <\/span>&#13;<br \/>\n                        <span class=\"credit ar23-credit\">AP<\/span>&#13;<br \/>\n    <\/figcaption>&#13;<br \/>\n&#13;<br \/>\n&#13;<br \/>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Just when it seemed he had consolidated his position as Syrian president after the Arab Spring uprising and Islamic State land grabs, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/topic\/bashar-al-assad\">Bashar al-Assad<\/a>&#8216;s future hangs in the balance after a stunning advance by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/hama-falls-insurgents-major-blow-assad-regime-1995936\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">anti-regime forces, who seized control of key cities<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Assad, whose army is accused by international observers of committing atrocities since the Syrian civil war broke out in 2011, including chemical attacks, is heavily reliant on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/topic\/russian-military\">Russian military<\/a> support to maintain his position and has been for several years.<\/p>\n<p>But Russian President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/topic\/vladimir-putin\">Vladimir Putin<\/a> is facing his own problems. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/syria-crisis-russia-ukraine-vladimir-putin-bashar-al-assad-1994932\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">His stretched army is advancing in Ukraine<\/a>, but at huge cost in both men and materiel, and Russia is also struggling to expand its influence across Africa, where it has troops in action, too.<\/p>\n<p>With Assad under renewed pressure and his army rapidly losing control to insurgents, and Putin&#8217;s war-weary economy pushed close to its limits, can Russia still save Syria&#8217;s president? <em>Newsweek<\/em> put the question to experts. Here&#8217;s what they said.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/can-russia-still-save-assad-syria-1996494\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read in full from Shane Croucher on Newsweek.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"live-item live-blog-37829\">\n            <a name=\"live-blog-37829\"\/> \t\t\t<a href=\"#live-blog-37829\" class=\"live-blog-time\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<time>  10:48 AM EST<\/time><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n<h3>Syrian rebels call on regime forces to defect as they warn, &#8216;our destination is Damascus&#8217;<\/h3>\n<p>The Syrian rebels have warned that they are heading for the county&#8217;s capital of Damascus.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Our destination is Damascus, and our meeting point is the public square of Umayyads,&#8221; the Southern Operations Room rebels group, representing factions in southern Syria, told CNN.<\/p>\n<p>They said they had already captured several government posts along the Jordan-Syria border, and urged government forces to defect now.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"live-item live-blog-37828\">\n            <a name=\"live-blog-37828\"\/> \t\t\t<a href=\"#live-blog-37828\" class=\"live-blog-time\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<time>  10:38 AM EST<\/time><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n<h3>Syrian opposition forces have reportedly seized the city of Deir ez-Zor<\/h3>\n<figure class=\"imageBox\" style=\"\">&#13;<br \/>\n&#13;<\/p>\n<div class=\"innerBox ar23-innerBox\" style=\"height:0;padding-bottom:56.24%\">\n<picture class=\"mapping-embed\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" media=\"(min-width: 992px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2231378\/fighters-syrian-democratic-forces-sdf.webp?w=737&amp;f=bf59152b43a219da190fad295fd6c82d 1x\"><source type=\"image\/jpeg\" media=\"(min-width: 992px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2231378\/fighters-syrian-democratic-forces-sdf.jpg?w=737&amp;f=bf59152b43a219da190fad295fd6c82d 1x\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2231378\/fighters-syrian-democratic-forces-sdf.webp?w=961&amp;f=860aa0ce1442058f619dfb9588376b08 1x\"><source type=\"image\/jpeg\" media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2231378\/fighters-syrian-democratic-forces-sdf.jpg?w=961&amp;f=860aa0ce1442058f619dfb9588376b08 1x\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" media=\"(min-width: 481px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2231378\/fighters-syrian-democratic-forces-sdf.webp?w=737&amp;f=bf59152b43a219da190fad295fd6c82d 1x\"><source type=\"image\/jpeg\" media=\"(min-width: 481px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2231378\/fighters-syrian-democratic-forces-sdf.jpg?w=737&amp;f=bf59152b43a219da190fad295fd6c82d 1x\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" media=\"(min-width: 0px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2231378\/fighters-syrian-democratic-forces-sdf.webp?w=450&amp;f=ff6baa2dfb1de9920ae3a3a6d83311ee 1x\"><source type=\"image\/jpeg\" media=\"(min-width: 0px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2231378\/fighters-syrian-democratic-forces-sdf.jpg?w=450&amp;f=ff6baa2dfb1de9920ae3a3a6d83311ee 1x\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2231378\/fighters-syrian-democratic-forces-sdf.webp\"><img decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\" class=\"mapping-embed imgPhoto\" id=\"i2231378\" src=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2231378\/fighters-syrian-democratic-forces-sdf.jpg\" alt=\"Fighters of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) \"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n&#13;<figcaption class=\"caption ar23-caption\">&#13;<br \/>\n            <span class=\"cap\" id=\"short-cap-description\">Fighters of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) flash the victory gesture next to their unfurled flag atop a roof at a position in the village of Baghouz in Syria&#8217;s eastern Deir Ezzor province, near the&#8230;<\/span>&#13;<br \/>\n        <span class=\"cap\" id=\"full-cap-description\" style=\"display: none;\">Fighters of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) flash the victory gesture next to their unfurled flag atop a roof at a position in the village of Baghouz in Syria&#8217;s eastern Deir Ezzor province, near the Iraqi border, on March 24, 2019.<\/span>&#13;<br \/>\n                    <button onclick=\"toggleCap(this)\" id=\"read-more-cap\">More<\/button>&#13;<br \/>\n                        <span class=\"credit ar23-credit\">GIUSEPPE CACACE\/AFP via Getty Images<\/span>&#13;<br \/>\n    <\/figcaption>&#13;<br \/>\n&#13;<br \/>\n&#13;<br \/>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Syrian opposition forces have seized the eastern city of Deir ez-Zor, Reuters reports.<\/p>\n<p>Syrian government troops have now withdrawn from the parts of the city that were under their control<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Syrian forces and their Iran-backed allies completely withdrew from areas they control in Deir Ezzor province and Kurdish forces are advancing towards their areas,&#8221; said Rami Abdel Rahman, the head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, according to Agence France-Presse (AFP).<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"live-item live-blog-37825\">\n            <a name=\"live-blog-37825\"\/> \t\t\t<a href=\"#live-blog-37825\" class=\"live-blog-time\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<time>  10:33 AM EST<\/time><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n<h3>Syrian government forces withdraw from al-Suwayda police headquarters<\/h3>\n<p>Syrian government forces have withdrawn from from police headquarters in the city of al-Suwayda, according to local reports.<\/p>\n<p>Opposition fighters have given pro-government forces 24 hours to vacate al-Suwayda city.<\/p>\n<p>Local news reports that those forces have now vacated the headquarters and left.<\/p>\n<p>There have been reports of clashes across al-Suwayda and that the Military Intelligence Directorate headquarters has been surrounded.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"fullCode\">&#13;<\/p>\n<div class=\"innerBox\">\n<div class=\"code\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-conversation=\"none\">\n<p lang=\"ar\" dir=\"rtl\">\u0639\u0627\u062c\u0644: \u0645\u0631\u0627\u0633\u0644 \u0627\u0644\u0633\u0648\u064a\u062f\u0627\u0621 24 \u064a\u0624\u0643\u062f \u0627\u0646\u0633\u062d\u0627\u0628 \u0639\u0646\u0627\u0635\u0631 \u0627\u0644\u0634\u0631\u0637\u0629 \u0645\u0646 \u0645\u0628\u0646\u0649 \u0642\u064a\u0627\u062f\u0629 \u0627\u0644\u0634\u0631\u0637\u0629 \u0648\u0633\u0637 \u0645\u062f\u064a\u0646\u0629 \u0627\u0644\u0633\u0648\u064a\u062f\u0627\u0621 \u0648\u0625\u062e\u0644\u0627\u0621\u0647 \u0641\u064a \u0647\u0630\u0647 \u0627\u0644\u0623\u062b\u0646\u0627\u0621 \u062a\u062c\u0627\u0648\u0628\u0627\u064b \u0645\u0639 \u062a\u062d\u0630\u064a\u0631\u0627\u062a \u0627\u0644\u0641\u0635\u0627\u0626\u0644 \u0627\u0644\u0645\u062d\u0644\u064a\u0629. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/dZi0GsIsuG\">pic.twitter.com\/dZi0GsIsuG<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 \u0627\u0644\u0633\u0648\u064a\u062f\u0627\u0621 24 (@suwayda24) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/suwayda24\/status\/1865045420717592902?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">December 6, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n<\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"live-item live-blog-37823\">\n            <a name=\"live-blog-37823\"\/> \t\t\t<a href=\"#live-blog-37823\" class=\"live-blog-time\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<time>  10:19 AM EST<\/time><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n<h3>Lebanon closes land border crossings with Syria<\/h3>\n<p>Lebanon has closed all its land border crossings with Syria except one, as Syrian rebels advance on a third city.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Border crossings will be closed until further notice for the safety of travelers,&#8221; Lebanon&#8217;s security agency said in a statement.<\/p>\n<p>They added that the only crossing that will be kept open is Masnaa, which links Beirut with the Syrian capital Damascus.<\/p>\n<p>The announcement came hours after an Israeli airstrike damaged the al-Arida border crossing with Syria in north Lebanon.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"live-item live-blog-37821\">\n            <a name=\"live-blog-37821\"\/> \t\t\t<a href=\"#live-blog-37821\" class=\"live-blog-time\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<time>  10:13 AM EST<\/time><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n<h3>Syria&#8217;s border crossing with Iraq falls under rebel control<\/h3>\n<p>Syria&#8217;s border crossing with Iraq falls has been captured by rebels, Reuters reports.<\/p>\n<p>The crossing, at the eastern city of Albu Kamal, was reportedly taken on Friday morning by members of the Syrian Democratic Forces.<\/p>\n<p>The crossing is a crucial transport route across the region.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"live-item live-blog-37819\">\n            <a name=\"live-blog-37819\"\/> \t\t\t<a href=\"#live-blog-37819\" class=\"live-blog-time\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<time>  10:06 AM EST<\/time><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n<h3>Thousands flee as Syrian rebels close in on city of Homs<\/h3>\n<figure class=\"imageBox\" style=\"\">&#13;<br \/>\n&#13;<\/p>\n<div class=\"innerBox ar23-innerBox\" style=\"height:0;padding-bottom:66.68%\">\n<picture class=\"mapping-embed\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" media=\"(min-width: 992px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2537628\/internally-displaced-people-northern-syria.webp?w=737&amp;f=3b0b2d7153ac351dbe33223a6cc017af 1x\"><source type=\"image\/jpeg\" media=\"(min-width: 992px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2537628\/internally-displaced-people-northern-syria.jpg?w=737&amp;f=3b0b2d7153ac351dbe33223a6cc017af 1x\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2537628\/internally-displaced-people-northern-syria.webp?w=961&amp;f=7d408e0a1532cd2314cae463d3b20cd4 1x\"><source type=\"image\/jpeg\" media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2537628\/internally-displaced-people-northern-syria.jpg?w=961&amp;f=7d408e0a1532cd2314cae463d3b20cd4 1x\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" media=\"(min-width: 481px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2537628\/internally-displaced-people-northern-syria.webp?w=737&amp;f=3b0b2d7153ac351dbe33223a6cc017af 1x\"><source type=\"image\/jpeg\" media=\"(min-width: 481px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2537628\/internally-displaced-people-northern-syria.jpg?w=737&amp;f=3b0b2d7153ac351dbe33223a6cc017af 1x\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" media=\"(min-width: 0px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2537628\/internally-displaced-people-northern-syria.webp?w=450&amp;f=5ab6d789eac8ed84357e1fbfb303cf4f 1x\"><source type=\"image\/jpeg\" media=\"(min-width: 0px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2537628\/internally-displaced-people-northern-syria.jpg?w=450&amp;f=5ab6d789eac8ed84357e1fbfb303cf4f 1x\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2537628\/internally-displaced-people-northern-syria.webp\"><img decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\" class=\"mapping-embed imgPhoto\" id=\"i2537628\" src=\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2537628\/internally-displaced-people-northern-syria.jpg\" alt=\"Internally displaced people, northern Syria\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n&#13;<figcaption class=\"caption ar23-caption\">&#13;<br \/>\n            <span class=\"cap\" id=\"short-cap-description\">Thousands of Kurdish families displaced from Aleppo and Tel Rifaat have ended up in temporary shelters and on the streets in Kurdish-controlled areas of Tabqa city, northern Syria, as rebel forces continue their advance into&#8230;<\/span>&#13;<br \/>\n        <span class=\"cap\" id=\"full-cap-description\" style=\"display: none;\">Thousands of Kurdish families displaced from Aleppo and Tel Rifaat have ended up in temporary shelters and on the streets in Kurdish-controlled areas of Tabqa city, northern Syria, as rebel forces continue their advance into key cities. December 4, 2024. <\/span>&#13;<br \/>\n                    <button onclick=\"toggleCap(this)\" id=\"read-more-cap\">More<\/button>&#13;<br \/>\n                        <span class=\"credit ar23-credit\">Hogir El Abdo\/AP<\/span>&#13;<br \/>\n    <\/figcaption>&#13;<br \/>\n&#13;<br \/>\n&#13;<br \/>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Thousands of people are fleeing their homes as Syrian opposition fighters advance on the city of Homs, according to a human rights group.<\/p>\n<p>Rebels have already captured the Aleppo, a city in the north, and the central city of Hama, and are now closing in on Homs.<\/p>\n<p>The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that thousands of Homs residents began leaving the city for Syria&#8217;s west coast on Thursday night.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"fluid\"\r\n     data-ad-layout-key=\"-fb+5w+4e-db+86\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"7910942971\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><div data-type=\"_mgwidget\" data-widget-id=\"1660802\">\r\n<\/div>\r\n<script>(function(w,q){w[q]=w[q]||[];w[q].push([\"_mgc.load\"])})(window,\"_mgq\");\r\n<\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/syria-civil-war-live-updates-syrian-state-media-denies-damascus-under-attack-rebels-advance-1996713\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The U.S.-backed Syrian rebel forces have seized the eastern city of Deir ez-Zor in the latest setback for President Bashar al-Assad. Iran-backed Syrian government forces are now withdrawing from the &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/?p=134165\" class=\"more-link\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[29],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-134165","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-world","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/134165","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=134165"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/134165\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=134165"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=134165"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=134165"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}