The pressure is increasing on Bashar al-Assad.
The Islamist movement Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and possibly additional rebel groups have reached at least three suburbs in southern and eastern Damascus, and a statue of al-Assad's father, the brutal dictator Hafiz al-Assad, has been toppled by rebels in one of the suburbs, witnesses told the AFP news agency.
A commander within HTS, Hassan Abdul-Ghani, writes on Telegram that the offensive in Syria is in its "final stage" by encircling Damascus – and that rebel groups are joining from southern Syria.
HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa makes a direct appeal to the fighters: "Damascus is waiting for you".
Where is al-Assad?
The government forces have, according to Interior Minister Mohammed al-Rahmoun, formed an iron ring around the capital.
No one can break through that defense line, he said on state TV.
From Bashar al-Assad, however, there is silence, and rumors that he has fled Damascus are spreading. This is denied by the presidential office, which states that Assad "continues his work and performs national and constitutional duties from the capital".
The US-designated terrorist group HTS, which is leading the uprising against the regime, launched the surprise offensive last week, where the major city of Aleppo first fell, followed by several of Syria's larger cities.
Homs close to falling
Government forces are said to have left the important city of Homs, and on Saturday evening, rebels took control of several city districts, reports the British-based Syrian Human Rights Observatory.
In southern Syria, regime forces have retreated from, among other places, the province of Daraa. Rebels are also said to have taken control of the village of Quneitra in the Golan Heights, near the Israeli border. Israel is strengthening its military presence in the border area.
