Syrian revolution forces, led by the Southern Operations Room and the Command of Military Operations (CMO), have made sweeping territorial gains across multiple provinces, including Hama, Homs, and Daraa, as they push towards Damascus in their effort to topple the Assad regime. The developments signal a turning point in the ongoing conflict, with regime forces reportedly retreating under pressure and civilian resistance bolstering the revolution.
On Thursday, revolution factions announced full control of the city of Hama after heavy clashes with regime forces. Lieutenant Colonel Hassan Abdulghani, a spokesman for the CMO, confirmed the city’s liberation, stating, “The city of Hama has been completely freed following successful combing operations by our forces. Homs awaits the arrival of our troops as we continue to advance southward.”
The retreating regime described the withdrawal as a “tactical maneuver” to “protect civilians,” according to Defense Minister Ali Mahmoud Abbas. However, Abdulghani dismissed the claim as a “familiar tactic” of evasion, accusing the Assad regime of using hit-and-run operations to cover its mounting losses.
The CMO has reportedly reached key towns in the Homs countryside, including Rastan, Talbiseh, and Deir Fool, following significant advances after Hama’s liberation. Reinforcements have been deployed to secure the area, and revolutionary forces are now within 10 kilometers of the city of Homs.
In the south, the Southern Operations Room (SOR) announced victories in Daraa province, taking full control of Al-Karak Al-Sharqi and Al-Ghariyah Al-Sharqi. The coalition, composed of anti-regime factions, has declared its intent to secure Syria’s southern borders and march on Damascus to end “the rule of tyranny.”
Local fighters in Daraa have reportedly overrun several regime checkpoints, including those in Samlin, Al-Tira, and eastern Al-Ghariyah. Residents in the area have facilitated defections of regime soldiers and seized military equipment, including tanks and armored vehicles. SOR forces have also captured key infrastructure, such as the customs checkpoint in Daraa city, marking a significant blow to regime control in the south.
Despite its losses, the Assad regime has launched airstrikes and artillery attacks on towns recently liberated. Russian warplanes targeted the bridge in Rastan, Homs, in an apparent effort to slow the Repelling the Aggression campaign’s advance. Local sources reported civilian casualties in the towns of Talbiseh and Al-Ghantu in northern Homs, where regime forces bombarded residential areas following their retreat. CMO spokesman Abdulghani noted, “This is how the occupier treats the land it retreats from – by bombing it indiscriminately and targeting its people.”
The SOR has described its campaign as a battle for “freedom and dignity,” emphasizing its goal of achieving a unified and just Syria. Its leaders have called for the preservation of state institutions while coordinating with various Syrian communities to prevent chaos and build a stable post-conflict state.
The revolution’s push toward Damascus comes amid significant regime defections and growing international calls for a political solution. Popular uprisings in the south have intensified coordination with local fighters and other forces. Most are now focusing on Homs as the next major target. Abdulghani called on civilians in Homs to prepare for liberation, stating, “The remnants of the criminal regime are collapsing. We are advancing steadily, and the era of tyranny is nearing its end.”
Meanwhile, the Assad regime continues to try to regroup, with reports indicating the withdrawal of its Fourth Division from eastern Deir Ezzor to the region’s military airport, signaling a potential reordering of priorities as revolutionary forces gain ground across multiple fronts. As the battle for Homs looms and the revolution strengthens its southern campaign, the balance of power in Syria appears to be shifting, with momentum increasingly favoring the Syrian revolution.
