AMN
Syrian Govt loses control of Daraa city; Rebels close in on Homs city; India advises its nationals to leave the country
In Syria, the government forces have lost control of Daraa city, widely regarded as the birthplace of Syria’s 2011 civil uprising.
According to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, rebel forces now control over 90 per cent of Daraa province Daraa city, located roughly 100 km from capital Damascus.
Meanwhile, thousands of people left Homs, Syria’s third-largest city, as yesterday, opposition fighters began advancing to Homs after capturing two nearby towns.
Jordan’s Interior Minister Mazen Farrayah has announced the closure of the Jaber border crossing with Syria due to the security conditions in southern Syria. Yesterday, clashes erupted near the Jaber border crossing in Syria, where armed groups allegedly infiltrated the area and attacked Syrian army positions.
The Lebanese army has also reinforced its deployment along the Lebanese-Syrian border in the Bekaa region amid escalating conflicts in Syria, according to security sources.
The move comes as Lebanon fears that the intensifying clashes between the Syrian government and rebel groups could increase the likelihood of extremist groups reaching the Lebanese border.
In Syria, clashes between rebel forces and regime troops have intensified since 27th of last month. By 29th, rebel forces captured Aleppo and subsequently gained control of Idlib province the following day.
Meanwhile, India has advised its nationals to avoid all travel to Syria until further notification in view of the prevailing situation in the West Asian nation. In an advisory, the External Affairs Ministry has asked Indians currently in Syria to remain in touch with the Indian Embassy in Damascus for updates.
The Embassy’s emergency helpline number is +96 3993385973 and email ID is [email protected].
Those who can leave have been advised to leave by the earliest available commercial flights. Others have been requested to observe utmost precaution about their safety and restrict their movements to the minimum.