Syrian opposition forces have captured the village of Deir Hafer east of Aleppo, Arab media outlets reported overnight Saturday. The northern Syrian city is largely under rebel control, with the remaining portion held by Kurdish forces. Further south, opposition forces have reached the northern outskirts of Hama.
Simultaneously, developments are unfolding in southern Syria. Al-Arabi channel broadcast footage of demonstrations in the Damascus area supporting the operations of Islamic rebels. Pro-opposition protests were also documented in the southern city of Daraa, where demonstrations against the Assad regime have been ongoing for several months.
Opposition sources in the Daraa region told Al-Arabi Al-Jadid newspaper that rebel infrastructure is already in place there. According to these sources, the goal is to conduct a "pincer movement from south and north" to attack the capital, Damascus. Reports indicated that the capital witnessed military deployments by Assad regime forces. A local website in Daraa also reported that local factions plan to conduct military operations against Assad army checkpoints in southern Syria.
Video: Syrian opposition soldiers play soccar with a statue head of Hafez Assad / Credit: Arab social media
A Syrian source close to the opposition emphasized that, unlike in the past, operations in the south and north will have a higher level of coordination. "The Assad regime is in a weak position, as are its operators. This is a golden opportunity for Syrians. Syria cannot become a developed country unless this tyrannical regime is removed," the source said.
In northern Syria, the rebels' operations department announced they had taken control of Aleppo and the entire Idlib governorate and succeeded in blocking the road between Aleppo and Raqqa (an eastern provincial city and another key stronghold).
Video: Syrian opposition takes over airfield / Credit: Arab social media
Despite the rebels' operational successes, the Russians are not abandoning the Assad regime at this point. During the night, Russian fighter jets conducted strikes in the northern Idlib governorate, the main stronghold of the Syrian opposition.
Syrian President Bashar Assad, who returned to Damascus over the weekend, declared yesterday that "Syria is capable, with the help of its allies, of defeating the terrorists. No matter how much their attacks have intensified." In a conversation with UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed, Assad said, "Syria will continue to defend its stability and territorial integrity against all terrorists and their supporters." Assad also spoke with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, who expressed readiness to assist the Syrian regime.
