Rebels seize Syria’s third largest city and advance towards Damascus

Rebels entered the city and took over some neighborhoods. The action reportedly occurred after security forces hurriedly left the city after burning documents, Reuters reported. Ramie Abdel Rahmanwho leads the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, also stated that Syrian troops and members of different security agencies had left the city.

Prisoners were also released from the city’s central prison. A rebel alliance commander, Hassan Abdel Ghani, said that more than 3,500 prisoners had been freed — it was not possible to verify the veracity of this number.

After rebels announced entry into Homs, the Syrian Ministry of Defense denied the reports. “The information disseminated by media platforms affiliated with terrorist organizations about the entry of terrorists into the city of Homs is unfounded.” “The situation is safe and stable, and our armed forces are positioned around the city in solid defensive lines,” he added. The Assad government has not yet commented on the group’s claim to have entered the capital, the Syrian president’s seat of power.

A Syrian rebel military operations spokesman said that after Homs, they would head to Damascus. “There will be a new Syria based on justice. We are not facing a real army, but a militia,” he told Al Jazeera.

Earlier on Sunday (local time), commander said rebel forces are eyeing Damascus. In a statement, Ghani added that operations were underway to “completely liberate” the countryside around the capital. The rebels have continued to sweep across the southwest of the country in the last 24 hours and have established control in several regions.

Offensive in Syria was launched by insurgents on November 27. They have already quickly taken control of Aleppo, the country’s second largest city, located in the northwest, and Hama in the center.