SYRIA—A nation fractured by war stands on the edge of a seismic shift as Islamist-led rebels surged within striking distance of Homs, Syria’s third-largest city. In a blitzkrieg campaign, rebels seized two pivotal towns, Rastan and Talbisseh, marking an alarming escalation in their assault, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR).
Rebels Closing In on Homs
“Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and allied factions are now just five kilometers—barely three miles—from the outskirts of Homs,” Rami Abdel Rahman, head of SOHR, revealed. Their swift victories this week, including the dramatic capture of Hama and Aleppo, now place the rebels on the doorstep of the city once known as the “capital of the revolution.”
This advance is more than a symbolic blow. Homs serves as a gateway to Syria’s coastal region, home to President Bashar al-Assad’s Alawite minority stronghold. A rebel takeover could sever crucial supply routes and destabilize Assad’s grip on power, further upending Syria’s fragile balance.
A Personal War for the Fighters
Rebel commander Hassan Abdel Ghani declared on Telegram that his forces “continue to march steadily towards the city of Homs.” For Abdel Ghani and many of his fighters, this offensive carries personal stakes.
“These are fighters who were forced to flee their city years ago under Assad’s iron grip,” Abdel Ghani said. “Now, they are returning to reclaim what was taken from them and to deter Assad’s aggression against their home.”
Homs holds a tragic significance. It was ground zero for massive anti-government protests during Syria’s 2011 uprising, earning its moniker as the “capital of the revolution.” By 2014, it became a symbol of destruction and despair as government forces crushed resistance after a two-year siege, leaving much of the Old City in ruins.
A Region Scarred by Violence
Homs has not only been a battleground but also a flashpoint for sectarian violence. The city’s Alawite community, loyal to Assad, has been repeatedly targeted in attacks by extremist factions. In 2014, twin bombings killed over 100 people, mostly civilians, in an Alawite neighborhood. The attack was claimed by Al-Nusra Front, the precursor to HTS.
HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, once linked to Al-Qaeda, formally severed ties with the jihadist group in 2016. However, the shadow of his extremist past looms large, as his forces continue their relentless advance across Syria.
Mass Exodus Unfolding
The offensive has triggered a humanitarian crisis. Tens of thousands of Alawite residents are fleeing Homs toward the coast, fearing persecution and violence as the rebels close in, SOHR reported.
For Assad’s regime, losing Homs would be a devastating blow—not just militarily but psychologically. For many Syrians, it would signify a collapse of the government’s control over its heartland.
A City at the Crossroads
The fall of Homs could reshape the Syrian war, turning the tide against Assad after years of battlefield victories. With each mile the rebels gain, the stakes grow higher, threatening to reignite sectarian violence and plunge the region into further chaos.
For now, all eyes are on Homs—a city battered by history, bracing for yet another chapter of war, bloodshed, and heartbreak. Will it fall, or will Assad’s forces mount a last-ditch defense to hold their ground? Only time will tell in Syria’s most volatile theater of war.