Islamabad: Rebels have taken control of the strategic Syrian city of Homs after government forces withdrew in a swift retreat. The city’s capture marks a significant shift in the ongoing conflict, with rebels claiming that Homs is on the verge of complete liberation.
The Syrian government quickly dismissed these claims, stating that its defense lines around Homs remain intact. However, the rebel leadership insists on being in the final stages of liberating the city.
Homs, positioned between Damascus and the Mediterranean coast, has been a critical prize in the years-long war.
Simultaneously, speculation regarding President Bashar al-Assad’s whereabouts has intensified, following the absence of his Presidential Guard from his usual residence.
