Syrian rebel forces announced on Saturday they have taken control of the southern city of Daraa, marking a significant blow to President Bashar al-Assad's regime. Daraa, the birthplace of the 2011 uprising against Assad, is the fourth city to fall to rebel forces within a week.

Rebel sources reported that the Syrian military agreed to withdraw from Daraa under a deal ensuring safe passage for army officials to Damascus, located about 100 kilometers to the north. Videos circulating on social media showed rebels celebrating with residents, firing shots into the air at the city’s main square. Neither Assad's government nor the military has commented on the situation, and the claims remain unverified by Reuters.

Daraa, once home to over 100,000 people, holds symbolic importance as the cradle of the Syrian uprising. The city is also the capital of a province bordering Jordan, with a population of around 1 million. Its loss highlights the Assad regime’s increasingly precarious position, as rebel forces continue their rapid advances.

The rebel offensive has also reached the outskirts of Homs, a strategic city connecting Damascus to the Mediterranean coast. Capturing Homs would sever Assad’s access to the coastal regions, including the Alawite strongholds of Latakia and Tartus, as well as key Russian military bases.

“Our forces have liberated the last village on the outskirts of Homs and are now on its walls,” declared a leading rebel faction via Telegram. Thousands of civilians have reportedly fled Homs towards coastal regions, fearing intensified fighting.

The week-long rebel offensive has resulted in significant territorial gains. Key cities, including Aleppo in the northwest, Hama in central Syria, and Deir el-Zor in the east, have reportedly fallen to opposition forces. This rapid progress has reignited rebel momentum after years of stalemate.

In the east, Kurdish-led forces claim Islamic State fighters have reasserted control over some areas, further destabilizing the region. Analysts suggest the Assad regime is now facing one of its gravest threats since the civil war began 13 years ago.

Iran, a crucial ally of Assad, appears to be retreating from Syria. Reports indicate Tehran has begun evacuating its military officials, reflecting its struggles to sustain support amid broader regional tensions. Russia, another key ally, has intensified airstrikes targeting rebel positions but faces increasing strain as rebels consolidate control from Aleppo to Daraa.

Abu Mohammed Al-Golani, leader of the Islamist rebel faction Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), declared that Assad’s rule is nearing its end. “This operation broke the enemy,” he said in a recent interview.

As the conflict escalates, Russia and Jordan have urged their citizens to leave Syria. The international community watches closely as the balance of power in Syria shifts once again, with rebel forces achieving their most significant advances in over a decade.

The Syrian civil war has already claimed over 305,000 lives between 2011 and 2021, according to the United Nations. The latest developments could mark a turning point in the protracted conflict, threatening the stability of Assad’s regime and the future of Syria.