Live updates on Syria’s civil war: Syrian state media deny Damascus under attack as rebels advance

Can Russia still save Assad in Syria?

While he appeared to have consolidated his position as Syrian president after the Arab Spring uprising and the Islamic State land grab, Bashar al-Assad’s future hangs in the balance following the stunning advance of anti-ISIS forces. regime, which took control of key cities.

Assad, whose army is accused by international observers of having committed atrocities since the start of the Syrian civil war in 2011, including chemical attacks, relies heavily on Russian military support to maintain his position and has done so for several years.

But Russian President Vladimir Putin faces problems of his own. Its deployed army is advancing in Ukraine, but at a huge cost in men and materiel, and Russia is also struggling to expand its influence in Africa, where it also has troops in action.

With Assad under new pressure, his army rapidly losing control to insurgents, and Putin’s war-weary economy close to its limits, can Russia still save the Syrian president? News week ask the experts. Here’s what they said.

Read the full article from Shane Croucher at Newsweek.

Syrian rebels call on regime forces to defect, warn ‘our destination is Damascus’

Syrian rebels have warned they are heading toward Damascus, the county capital.

“Our destination is Damascus and our meeting point is the Umayyad public square,” the Southern Operations Room rebel group, representing factions in southern Syria, told CNN.

They said they had already captured several government posts along the Jordan-Syria border and urged government forces to defect now.

Syrian opposition forces reportedly captured town of Deir ez-Zor

Syrian opposition forces have taken control of the eastern city of Deir ez-Zor, Reuters reports.

Syrian government troops have now withdrawn from the areas of the city they controlled.

“Syrian forces and their Iranian-backed allies have completely withdrawn from areas they control in Deir Ezzor province and Kurdish forces are advancing towards their areas,” said Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory of human rights, according to Agence France-Presse. (AFP).

Syrian government forces withdraw from Al-Suwayda police headquarters

Syrian government forces have withdrawn from the police headquarters in the town of al-Suwayda, according to local reports.

Opposition fighters gave pro-government forces 24 hours to leave the town of al-Suwayda.

Local news reports that these forces have now left the headquarters and left.

Clashes took place in Al-Suwayda and the headquarters of the Directorate of Military Intelligence was surrounded.

Lebanon closes land borders with Syria

Lebanon has closed all but one of its land border crossings with Syria as Syrian rebels advance toward a third city.

“Border posts will be closed until further notice for the safety of travelers,” the Lebanese security agency said in a statement.

They added that the only crossing that will remain open is Masnaa, which connects Beirut to Damascus, the Syrian capital.

This announcement comes hours after an Israeli airstrike damaged the Al-Arida border crossing with Syria, in northern Lebanon.

Syria-Iraq border crossing falls under rebel control

The border crossing between Syria and Iraq has been captured by rebels, reports Reuters.

The crossing, located in the eastern town of Albou Kamal, was reportedly seized Friday morning by members of the Syrian Democratic Forces.

The crossing is a crucial transportation route through the region.

Thousands flee as Syrian rebels close in on Homs city

Thousands of people are fleeing their homes as Syrian opposition fighters advance towards the city of Homs, according to a human rights organization.

Rebels have already taken Aleppo, a northern city, and the central city of Hama, and are now closing in on Homs.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said thousands of Homs residents began leaving the city for Syria’s west coast on Thursday evening.