U.S. warns citizens to evacuate Syria amid rebel surge
On Friday, the United States advised its citizens to leave Syrian territory immediately. This advisory follows a rapid offensive by Islamist rebels against the forces of Bashar al-Assad's regime, with rebels taking control of several significant cities in the country.
"The Department of State urges U.S. citizens to depart Syria now while commercial options remain available in Damascus," announced American authorities in a statement published on social media.
The rebels keep moving forward
Islamist rebels from the organization Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and their allies began an offensive against Assad's forces on November 27. In a swift campaign, they have captured key cities, including Aleppo, the country's second-largest city, and Hama, which has a population of approximately 500,000. They have also seized control of the city of Daraa.
The ongoing battles are the most significant clashes in Syria since 2020, when the frontline of the civil war, ongoing since 2011, was stabilized. Assad's regime managed to regain control of most of the country's territory, largely due to support from Russia and Iran. It is estimated that at least 500,000 people have died in the conflict. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), over 700 people, including more than 100 civilians, have died in the ongoing battles over the past week. The UN has reported 370,000 refugees.
