Jihadists get to Damascus neighborhoods

(MENAFN) Jihadist groups in Syria, including Hayat Tahrir-al-Sham (HTS), have advanced towards the suburbs of Damascus in a rapid offensive, seizing control of key cities and towns across the country. This marks the first time since 2015 that jihadist forces have reached the outskirts of Syria's capital. Over the past week, HTS and other anti-government groups have moved southward from the provinces of Aleppo and Idlib, forcing the Syrian Army to retreat from several strategic locations, including Aleppo, Hama, and towns north of Homs.

Despite these significant advances by jihadist forces, the Syrian presidency has denied reports claiming that President Bashar al-Assad had fled Damascus. These rumors, spread by some foreign media outlets, were quickly dismissed by the Syrian government as false and part of a broader effort to mislead and influence public opinion. The presidency reaffirmed that Assad continues to carry out his official duties from Damascus.

Reports have circulated suggesting that Assad's family had fled to Russia and that both Egypt and Jordan were pressuring the Syrian leader to leave the country. However, these claims remain unsubstantiated. HTS, formerly known as Jabhat al-Nusra and led by a former Al-Qaeda commander, has been one of the key jihadist factions fighting against Assad’s regime throughout the conflict.

Russia, which intervened in 2015 to support Assad, has conducted continuous airstrikes on jihadist positions, particularly targeting HTS. According to Syrian state media, these strikes have killed dozens of militants in recent days, with claims of over 2,500 jihadists killed since the beginning of December. Assad has vowed to eliminate the jihadists and punish their backers.

MENAFN11122024000045015687ID1108980924