Syria govt loses control of key city Daraa

AFP | Beirut, Lebanon

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Syrian government forces have lost control of Daraa city, a significant blow to President Bashar al-Assad’s regime, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. This latest development follows the capture of other major cities by rebel groups, signaling the erosion of Assad’s grip on power.

Daraa, often referred to as "the cradle of the revolution," became a focal point of Syria’s civil war in 2011, after protests erupted against the government's brutal crackdown. The unrest began when activists accused the regime of detaining and torturing young boys who had sprayed anti-Assad graffiti on school walls. This marked the beginning of the uprising that spiraled into a full-scale civil war.

In contrast to recent losses in Aleppo and Hama, which fell to an Islamist-led rebel alliance, Daraa was taken by local armed groups. The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that local factions now control more than 90 percent of Daraa province, including the city itself, after government forces withdrew from the area.

Despite a ceasefire brokered by Russia, a key ally of Assad, Daraa has been plagued by ongoing violence, with frequent clashes, attacks, and assassinations in recent years. The province, which borders Jordan, has been a hotspot of unrest as the conflict continues.

Syria’s civil war, which began as a crackdown on pro-democracy protests, has claimed over 500,000 lives and displaced millions. In a stunning series of losses, Assad’s forces have struggled to retain control over several major cities within a short period. Since a rebel offensive led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) began on November 27, the government has lost control of Aleppo, Hama, and, now, Daraa. Rebels have also advanced toward Homs, Syria’s third-largest city, while government forces have withdrawn from Deir Ezzor in the east.

In an interview with CNN, HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Jolani stated that the group’s primary goal remains the overthrow of the Assad regime. "When we talk about objectives, the goal of the revolution remains the overthrow of this regime," Jolani said, emphasizing that all available means would be used to achieve this aim. HTS, which is linked to Al-Qaeda, has been designated a terrorist organization by Western governments but has attempted to moderate its image in recent years.

The ongoing military setbacks highlight the fragile state of Assad’s rule as the war continues to devastate the country.