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Setbacks are piling up for Bashar al-Assad’s troops. The Syrian government has lost control of the southern city of Daraa, announces the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (OSDH), Friday December 6.
“Local factions have taken control of more areas in Daraa province, including Daraa city”, cradle of the 2011 uprising, details the OSDH. “They now control more than 90% of the province, while the regime forces have withdrawn.”specifies the NGO. Follow our live stream.
At least 20 civilians killed in Russian and Syrian raids near Homs. The NGO also ensures that government troops have withdrawn from this strategic city, the third in the country. The Syrian Defense Ministry denied this, saying that “the information (…) concerning the withdrawal of the army from Homs” were “false”.
The regime of Damas retires from the province of Deir Ezzor. Syrian forces and their Iranian-backed allies “suddenly” left the town of Deir Ezzor and its surroundings in the east of the country on Friday, the OSDH told AFP. “Columns of soldiers head towards central Syria”says the NGO. She also said in the evening that officials had evacuated government buildings in the southern town of Soueida.
Russia calls on its nationals to leave Syria. The Kremlin, allied with Bashar al-Assad, has supported the Damascus regime in an attempt to repel the offensive by Islamist rebels. But on Friday, the Russian embassy in Damascus said in a statement encouraging its nationals “to leave the country on commercial flights (…) due to the difficult military and political situation”specifying that its services in Damascus continue “to function normally”.
Jordan closes its border with Syria. The Jordanian Interior Minister announced “the closure of the Jaber border crossing (…) due to the security conditions in southern Syria”where the situation is extremely tense due to the advance of the rebels. Lebanon, for its part, maintains only one border post open with Syria, at Masnaa, in the east of the country.
Israel strengthens its positions on the occupied Syrian Golan. In this area, the Israeli army says “monitor the evolution of the situation” and be “ready to face all scenarios, whether offensive or defensive”adding that she will not tolerate “no threat”.
