Syrian insurgents advanced into two strategic towns near the central city of Homs early Friday, escalating their push toward Syria’s third-largest city. The towns of Rastan and Talbiseh fell under opposition control just a day after rebel forces seized Hama, the country’s fourth-largest city, marking a significant shift in the ongoing conflict.
The insurgent offensive, spearheaded by the jihadi group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and other opposition factions, brings them within five kilometers (three miles) of Homs, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor. This proximity raises fears of a direct assault on Homs, a city that holds strategic importance as a crossroads between the capital, Damascus, and the pro-government coastal strongholds of Latakia and Tartus.
Homs, once partially held by opposition forces until its recapture by the Syrian government in 2014, is Syria’s largest province by area and borders Lebanon, Iraq, and Jordan. Rami Abdurrahman, head of the Observatory, described the impending battle for Homs as pivotal, stating, “The battle of Homs is the mother of all battles and will decide who will rule Syria.”
Pro-government media outlet Sham FM reported that insurgents entered Rastan and Talbiseh without resistance, but there has been no official comment from the Syrian military regarding their withdrawal from these towns. Meanwhile, Syrian and Russian air forces have launched retaliatory strikes in Hama province, targeting opposition forces and reportedly killing dozens, according to state news agency SANA.
The recent fall of Hama has prompted an exodus of civilians loyal to President Bashar Assad, with thousands fleeing southward toward Damascus and the coastal region. The loss of Hama represents a significant blow to government forces, despite assertions from Syria’s defense minister, Gen. Ali Mahmoud Abbas, that the retreat was a tactical maneuver.
In a televised statement, Abbas described the insurgents as “takfiri extremists” backed by foreign powers, a veiled reference to Turkey and potentially the United States. “Our forces are at the gates of Hama,” Abbas said, vowing to retake lost territory.
The offensive marks a dramatic escalation in the Syrian conflict, which had largely settled into a stalemate in recent years. HTS and the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army have played central roles in this resurgence, building momentum following their unexpected capture of Aleppo, Syria’s former economic hub.
With Homs now within striking distance, the rebel advance underscores the volatility of the conflict and the growing challenges facing Assad’s government as it seeks to maintain control over key regions of the country.
