Clashes erupt in southern Syria between Assad's army and opposition groups UPDATED/VIDEO/MAP

Clashes broke out in the Nawa district of Daraa province in southern Syria today, as opposition groups launched attacks on regime checkpoints in the region.

The fighting intensified as the Syrian regime responded with mortar fire on the district's centre, Caliber.Az reports via Turkish media.

Local sources reported that opposition forces targeted regime checkpoints around Nawa in the morning, prompting artillery bombardments from the Syrian military on surrounding areas, including the Al-Jabiliya village in the western countryside of Daraa. The ongoing clashes have escalated tensions in the region, which has seen intermittent violence since the regime's recapture in 2018.

As the fighting continued, opposition groups successfully captured several key regime security checkpoints in the areas of Al Jeezah, Simlin, and Ghāriyah ash Sharqīyah, located across the western, eastern, and northern parts of Daraa province. These gains represent a significant blow to the Assad regime's military presence in the region.

In a further development, soldiers from the regime-backed 8th Division have reportedly formed a joint operations room with opposition forces in As Suwayda and Al Quneitra provinces. The newly formed alliance has agreed to take coordinated action against the regime in what appears to be an effort to challenge Assad’s control in the region.

Daraa, historically known as the cradle of Syria's 2011 uprising, was under opposition control from 2012 until 2018. The province became a focal point of the Syrian Civil War, and its strategic importance was further highlighted when regime forces, with Iranian-backed militias and Russian air support, launched a ground offensive in 2018. After months of fighting, the regime declared victory in July 2018, regaining control of the province.

Daraa's importance in the conflict is underscored by the fact that it was here that the violent crackdown by the Assad regime on peaceful protesters first ignited the widespread uprising, which eventually evolved into a full-scale civil war.

The resurgence of conflict in Daraa raises concerns about the stability of the region and whether the Assad regime can maintain control over territories that have long been a flashpoint in the Syrian conflict.

16:50

Anti-government armed groups in Syria have successfully seized full control of the northern countryside of Homs.

Videos circulating online show rebel forces entering the city of Homs with little to no resistance, Caliber.Az reports via Israeli media. 

Outskirts of Homs city pic.twitter.com/BwQSbsDzkf

— Liveuamap MiddleEast (@lummideast) December 6, 2024

Additional footage captures Syrian soldiers and armored vehicles being relocated on motor platforms, with reports indicating that the Syrian army is retreating from the city.

NEW: Assad regime forces reportedly withdraw from Homs. pic.twitter.com/X3Upk9Q9pJ

— Clash Report (@clashreport) December 6, 2024

Offensives by various opposition factions are ongoing across multiple fronts. In the southern province of Dar’a, near the Jordanian border, videos have emerged showing captured Syrian soldiers.

Meanwhile, fighting continues in the northern Deir Ez-Zor neighborhood, where the Syrian army is also reported to be retreating. The situation remains fluid as the conflict spreads across these regions.

Assad regime forces taken prisoner by the local rebels in Daraa. pic.twitter.com/qWXW8m19nb

— Clash Report (@clashreport) December 6, 2024

16:10

Anti-government militias have made significant advances in the strategically crucial province of Homs, located near Syria's capital, Damascus, with reports indicating that they have reached the interior of the city center.

Oopposition forces, who previously captured the district centers of Rastan and Talbiseh, are now engaged in operations in the Waer district, located to the west of Homs city center, Caliber.Az reports citing foreign media.

As clashes between government forces and rebel groups continue, the opposition factions are attempting to infiltrate deeper into the city's interior from multiple points, escalating the ongoing conflict in the region. The situation remains tense, with both sides reportedly engaged in intense fighting.

Clashes between Syrian regime forces and anti-regime groups first erupted on November 27 in the western countryside of Aleppo.

By November 30, the opposition forces had taken control of most of Aleppo’s city center and established dominance across Idlib province.

On December 5, following intense fighting, anti-regime forces captured the city center of Hama from regime control.

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

13:11

Director of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights Rami Abdulrahman has said that armed groups in Syria opposing Bashar al-Assad's army have reached Homs city after taking control of the Rastan Bridge and entering Talbiseh town. 

He stated that armed groups, led by Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham, arrived in Talbiseh despite airstrikes by unidentified aircraft attempting to prevent their advance toward Talbiseh and Rastan, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media. 

Abdulrahman also noted that while the armed groups do not currently control Homs city or its western and eastern countryside, they have taken control of the northern areas of the city.

Syrian fighters advance into Homs, seizing Rastan this morning without NO regime resistance. https://t.co/u1M9wmnnKX pic.twitter.com/vbSuJGmwCF

— Clash Report (@clashreport) December 6, 2024

Syrian rebels capture Rastan without a fight. Abdulrahman noted that although aircraft bombed the Rastan Bridge, some fighters are from the region and know the local roads, which allowed them to reach Talbiseh, located just a few kilometres from Homs. 

He believes that Homs is the final battle, and if it is controlled, the conflict in Syria will effectively be over. He emphasised that Homs is a critical hub and was once the capital of the Syrian revolution. According to the latest reports, opposition groups have reached Teir Maalah town, located just three kilometres from Homs city.

#SONDAKİKA

🚨Muhalifler, Humus kentine 3 kilometre mesafede yer alan Tir Maale kasabasına ulaştı. pic.twitter.com/Ciq2JbnyFM

— Conflict (@ConflictTR) December 6, 2024

By Naila Huseynova