Hezbollah enters the war in Syria! Fighters sent to save the city of Homs from rebel occupation, fierce battle is certain

Beirut: Rebels captured the southern city of Daraa in Syria on Saturday. This city is the birthplace of the rebellion that started in 2011 against President Bashar al-Assad. Daraa is the fourth largest city in Syria that the army supported by the Bashar al-Assad government has lost to the rebels during the past week.

Syrian rebels said that the army has reached an agreement with them to withdraw from Daraa. Under this agreement, the rebels will provide safe passage to army officers to the capital Damascus, about 100 km (60 miles) north. In a video viral on social media, rebels on motorcycles can be seen interacting and meeting local residents on the streets of Daraa. People were seen celebrating by firing bullets in the air at the main square of the city.

However, there has been no immediate comment from the Syrian army or the Bashar al-Assad government regarding the rebels’ capture of Daraa. This city is the capital of the Syrian province bordering Jordan, which has a population of around 1 lakh. 13 years ago, the rebellion against the Assad government started from here. In this way, the capture of Daraa by the rebels has a symbolic importance.

Syrian rebels reached the edge of Homs city
Earlier, Syrian rebels claimed late Friday night that they have advanced to the edge of Homs city. This city is located between the Syrian capital Damascus and the Mediterranean Sea. The capture of Homs by the rebels will cut off the capital Damascus, the stronghold of the Alawite community supporting Bashar al-Assad, and the naval base and airport of its Russian allies. The Syrian rebel group said on the Telegram messaging app, ‘Our army has liberated the last village on the outskirts of Homs city and has now captured its walls.’

The rebel groups include the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which made a final call to the army loyal to Assad’s government in Homs to join the rebellion with them. Three Syrian sources told Reuters that a US-backed rebel coalition led by Kurdish fighters on Friday captured Deir al-Zor, the main stronghold of the Assad government in the vast eastern desert. The rebels have also captured Aleppo and Hama. Syrian state TV reported that at least 200 rebels were killed in Russian-Syrian air strikes targeting rebel headquarters in Hama, Idlib and the Aleppo countryside on Friday.

Hezbollah sends fighters to protect Homs
A Syrian army source said Iran-backed Hezbollah forces have been deployed to strengthen government security in and near Homs. Two senior Lebanese security sources said on Friday that Hezbollah has sent its fighters to Syria to help the Assad government prevent rebels from capturing Homs. Syrian state media reported that dozens of rebels were killed in the Homs countryside on Friday in an operation carried out with Syrian and Russian air forces, artillery, missiles and armored vehicles.

The UN human rights office said in 2022 that Syria’s conflict has killed more than 305,000 people between 2011 and 2021. Forces backed by Bashar al-Assad regained control of much of Syria after key allies – Russia, Iran and Lebanon – came to the rescue of Hezbollah. But other crises have recently weakened and distracted all allies, allowing Sunni Muslim rebels to strike back.