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Syrian rebels claim to have reached Damascus' suburbs

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Syrian rebels claim to have reached Damascus' suburbs
Illustrative image: Anti-government fighters drive on the international M5 highway in the area Zarbah on Nov. 29, 2024, as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) Islamist rebels and allied factions continue their offensive in Syria's northern Aleppo province against the regime of Bashar al-Assad. ( Rami al Sayed / AFP via Getty Images)

Editor's note: This is a developing story and is being updated.

Syrian rebels claim to have reached the suburbs of Damascus, Syria's capital, on Dec. 7, as the rebel groups' rapid offensive against pro-government forces continues.

In a statement issued by the Free Syrian Army rebel group, the group claimed that they reached "the gates of Damascus,” CNN reported. Multiple opposition activists as well a rebel commander also made the claim on Saturday.

The Kyiv Independent cannot independently verify the claims.

Syrian rebel forces have quickly advanced in recent days, with rebel forces gaining control of major cities Aleppo and Hama.

Despite the ongoing offensive, Syrian President Bashar Al Assad remains in Damascus, his office said, denying claims that Assad had left the capital.

As the rebel offensive continues, over 1,000 Syrian pro-government soldiers reportedly crossed into Iraq at the border between the two countries in Eastern Syria, a military sources told Iraq's state news agency. Syrian government forces have found themselves unable to resist rebel forces in various regions of the country amid the recent offensive.

Although Ukraine is not involved in the conflict, the advance of Syrian rebels deals a blow to Assad's key ally, Russia.

There is much at stake for Russia — if Assad's regime falls, Russia will lose its regional foothold in the Middle East, including its only naval base in the Mediterranean, and its regional and global influence will be diminished.

Moscow deployed its troops to Syria in 2015, providing support to the Assad regime against multiple anti-government forces. Damascus has been supportive of the Kremlin during the ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

Russian forces operating in Syria have been accused by the U.N. and other organizations of committing war crimes in the country, including the intentional bombing of hospitals and the usage of "double-tap" attacks, a tactic Russia has repeated in Ukraine.

Russian milbloggers raise alarm over threat to Kremlin bases in Syria amid escalating Middle East crisis
There is much at stake for Russia — if Assad’s regime falls, Russia will lose its regional foothold in the Middle East.
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Volodymyr Ivanyshyn

News Editor

Volodymyr Ivanyshyn is a news editor for The Kyiv Independent. He is pursuing an Honors Bachelor of Arts at the University of Toronto, majoring in political science with a minor in anthropology and human geography. Volodymyr holds a Certificate in Business Fundamentals from Rotman Commerce at the University of Toronto. He previously completed an internship with The Kyiv Independent.

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