Jihadists advance to suburbs of Damascus, says AP
Terrorist organizations have taken control of several major cities in Syria, even as Assad's administration asserts that the president remains in the capital. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
Terrorist groups have seized control of some of Syria's largest cities as President Bashar Assad's office asserts that he remains in the capital.
Jihadist factions have advanced into the suburbs of Damascus in a rapidly unfolding offensive, having overrun major urban areas. This information was reported by the Associated Press on Saturday, citing opposition figures and an Islamist commander.
In response to spreading rumors about Assad's departure from Damascus, the Syrian presidency dismissed these claims. They indicated that misleading reports from foreign media were an attempt to confuse and sway the Syrian population. As groups like Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and other anti-government factions have pushed south from Aleppo and Idlib provinces over the past week, the Syrian Army has repeatedly retreated from crucial positions, including cities like Aleppo, Hama, and several towns north of Homs, in efforts to reinforce defensive lines against the advancing militants.
The Associated Press noted that the terrorists have apparently breached these defenses and reached the outskirts of Damascus, marking the first jihadist approach to the capital since 2015.
Amid the rapid advance of HTS, the Syrian presidential office stated on Saturday, “some foreign media outlets are spreading rumors and false news about President Bashar al-Assad leaving Damascus, or making quick visits to one country or another.” The presidency denied these rumors, highlighting their intent to mislead and asserting that such tactics have been recurring throughout the years of conflict. The statement concluded by asserting that Assad continues to perform his "national and constitutional duties from the capital, Damascus."
An anonymously sourced report from the Telegraph stated on Friday that Assad's family had sought refuge in Russia and expressed uncertainty about the president's own future in Syria. Various Western sources have suggested that both Egypt and Jordan are urging Assad to flee and establish a government in exile.
Led by a former Al-Qaeda commander, HTS was previously known as Jabhat al-Nusra and has been one of many factions opposing Assad during the Syrian Civil War.
Since 2015, Russia has intervened in the conflict to assist Assad in reclaiming territory from organizations like Jabhat al-Nusra, the Islamic State, and other US-supported groups labeled as “moderate rebels.” While the US directly targeted IS, it also armed and funded various anti-Assad factions throughout the decade-long conflict.
Assad has pledged to “eliminate” the jihadists currently wreaking havoc in central Syria and to hold accountable their “sponsors and supporters.” In the wake of the recent terrorist offensive, Russian and Syrian air forces have conducted near-constant airstrikes on HTS positions, reportedly killing dozens of militants in the north of Homs on Saturday.
According to Syrian media reports, Syrian and Russian forces have killed approximately 2,500 jihadists since early December.
Sanya Singh for TROIB News
Jihadist factions have advanced into the suburbs of Damascus in a rapidly unfolding offensive, having overrun major urban areas. This information was reported by the Associated Press on Saturday, citing opposition figures and an Islamist commander.
In response to spreading rumors about Assad's departure from Damascus, the Syrian presidency dismissed these claims. They indicated that misleading reports from foreign media were an attempt to confuse and sway the Syrian population. As groups like Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and other anti-government factions have pushed south from Aleppo and Idlib provinces over the past week, the Syrian Army has repeatedly retreated from crucial positions, including cities like Aleppo, Hama, and several towns north of Homs, in efforts to reinforce defensive lines against the advancing militants.
The Associated Press noted that the terrorists have apparently breached these defenses and reached the outskirts of Damascus, marking the first jihadist approach to the capital since 2015.
Amid the rapid advance of HTS, the Syrian presidential office stated on Saturday, “some foreign media outlets are spreading rumors and false news about President Bashar al-Assad leaving Damascus, or making quick visits to one country or another.” The presidency denied these rumors, highlighting their intent to mislead and asserting that such tactics have been recurring throughout the years of conflict. The statement concluded by asserting that Assad continues to perform his "national and constitutional duties from the capital, Damascus."
An anonymously sourced report from the Telegraph stated on Friday that Assad's family had sought refuge in Russia and expressed uncertainty about the president's own future in Syria. Various Western sources have suggested that both Egypt and Jordan are urging Assad to flee and establish a government in exile.
Led by a former Al-Qaeda commander, HTS was previously known as Jabhat al-Nusra and has been one of many factions opposing Assad during the Syrian Civil War.
Since 2015, Russia has intervened in the conflict to assist Assad in reclaiming territory from organizations like Jabhat al-Nusra, the Islamic State, and other US-supported groups labeled as “moderate rebels.” While the US directly targeted IS, it also armed and funded various anti-Assad factions throughout the decade-long conflict.
Assad has pledged to “eliminate” the jihadists currently wreaking havoc in central Syria and to hold accountable their “sponsors and supporters.” In the wake of the recent terrorist offensive, Russian and Syrian air forces have conducted near-constant airstrikes on HTS positions, reportedly killing dozens of militants in the north of Homs on Saturday.
According to Syrian media reports, Syrian and Russian forces have killed approximately 2,500 jihadists since early December.
Sanya Singh for TROIB News
