Syrian rebel forces in Hama Photo: Ghaith Alsayed/AP
Residents of the Syrian capital on Saturday rushed to stock up on food and medicine after reports that rebel forces began to surround Damascus. Many shops and pharmacies have closed amid the rapidly deteriorating situation, AFP reports.
In the suburb of Jaraman, protesters demolished statues of former President Hafez al-Assad, the father of the current head of state, Bashar al-Assad.
Panic among residents
“I am very afraid for myself and my unborn daughter,” said Rania, a Damascus resident who is eight months pregnant. She said she was unable to find the medicines she needed because the pharmacies were closed.
“The situation was different when I came out in the morning. But suddenly everyone started to panic,” said a woman who returned home with nothing after her husband asked her to stay safe.
Rebel offensive
According to representatives of the opposition forces, they are already less than 20 kilometres from the southern entrance to the capital. Rebel leader Hassan Abdel Ghani called the offensive “a necessity for the defence of the people and the land”.
Meanwhile, the Syrian army announced the strengthening of defensive lines around Damascus and in the south of the country. Interior Minister Mohammed al-Rahmoun assured that a “very strong” protective cordon has been created around the capital.
Rapid advance of insurgents
The operation, led by the Islamists of the radical group Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), began on 27 November in northwestern Syria. In a few days, they captured large areas, including the major cities of Aleppo and Hama.
In the centre of Damascus, paralysed by traffic jams, residents rushed to ATMs to withdraw money as panic reached a rare intensity.
Expert comments
Analysts say that the situation could be a decisive moment in the conflict, which has been going on for more than 12 years. The rebel offensive highlights the weakness of government forces in some regions, but their response in the form of offensive operations could further exacerbate the humanitarian crisis.
