Anti-regime forces take control of Homs province city center, gateway to Syrian capital of Damascus

By Anadolu Staff

HOMS, Syria (AA) - Anti-regime forces took control late Saturday of the city center of Homs province -- a gateway to the Syrian capital of Damascus, according to sources.

The armed groups opposed to Bashar al-Assad's regime, led by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which have been fighting regime forces since Nov. 27, continue to make advances.

After intense fighting in Homs, the groups entered the inner parts of the city and gained control of the city center.

Fighting in strategically important Homs, which opens to Damascus, has reached its heaviest recently.

In an effort to halt the advance of the groups, regime forces carried out intense airstrikes.

After fierce battles, and suffering significant losses, regime forces withdrew from the city center.

Opposition forces had taken control of most of Aleppo’s city center and established dominance across Idlib province by Nov. 30.

Following intense clashes Thursday, groups took control of the Hama city center from regime forces.

Anti-regime groups seized several settlements in the strategically important Homs province and began to advance.

On Friday, Syrian opposition groups took control of Daraa in southern Syria near the Jordanian border.

Earlier Saturday, they seized control of Suwayda province in the south. And local opposition forces in Quneitra gained control of the provincial capital.

The opposition Syrian National Army launched Operation Dawn of Freedom on Dec. 1 against the PKK/YPG terror group in the Tel Rifaat district of Aleppo's countryside, liberating the area from terror elements.

​​​​​​​*Writing by Esra Tekin in Istanbul