Syrian opposition begins siege of capital Damascus?

"Our forces have begun the final phase of the siege of the capital Damascus," CNN quoted opposition spokesman Hassan Abdulghani as saying on December 7. The opposition forces launched a surprise offensive from northern Syria in late November and have steadily taken control of major cities such as Aleppo in the north, Hama in the center and Deir al-Zor in the east.

Syrian opposition forces in the countryside of Homs province on December 7.

According to CNN, opposition gunmen entered the town of Kanaker in the Damascus countryside on December 7, moving closer to the Syrian capital.

The Syrian Defense Ministry denied reports that the army had abandoned its positions near Damascus, saying the opposition was spreading fake news to sow fear and confusion among the population.

Earlier, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said that government forces had left key areas, losing control of the entire southern province of Daraa and evacuating positions in Quneitra, near the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights. Currently, the opposition led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham is rapidly advancing towards the city of Homs, which lies on the road from Hama to Damascus. SOHR said that Syrian government forces are withdrawing from towns just 10 km from Damascus.

Meanwhile, Reuters quoted a statement from Russian military bloggers warning that the Syrian opposition's offensive is threatening two Russian military bases in the country, including the Hmeimim air base in Latakia province and the Tartus naval base on the Mediterranean coast.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met his Turkish and Iranian counterparts in Doha, Qatar, on December 7 and agreed on the need to immediately stop fighting in Syria, according to Reuters. Russia and Iran are allies of the Syrian government while Türkiye supports some armed opposition groups.

Mr Lavrov said Russia wanted the Syrian government to talk to the "official opposition". He said Hayat Tahrir al-Sham was a "terrorist" group and it was unacceptable for it to control Syrian territory. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham was once an al-Qaeda affiliate and is considered a terrorist organisation by many countries.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/quan-doi-lap-syria-bat-dau-bao-vay-thu-do-damascus-18524120721064069.htm