Syrian War: Iran Recalls Troops, Assad Forces Retreat As Rebels Seize Another City; Turkey Says 'Target Is Damascus'

The latest blow came as the HTS and Kurdish forces struck deep into Assad's territory snatching significant area from the army. Yesterday, HTS captured the city of Holm, an important gateway to Damascus, dealing another blow to the Russia-backed Assad regime.

While several local Arab news channels reported that President Bashar al-Assad fled the country along with his family to take refuge in Iran, no confirmation was provided by the President's office.

Here's Top Updates Of Syrian War

1. In 2011, the city of Daraa, situated about 100 km from Damascus, emerged as the focal point of nationwide protests after the Assad regime detained and allegedly tortured several boys for writing anti-government graffiti. Initially, peaceful demonstrations quickly escalated into a violent conflict, resulting in over 500,000 deaths and the displacement of millions.

2. A prominent UK-based Syrian observatory said that now rebel forces control 90 per cent area of Syria. The Assad forces have retreated in waves, Reuters reported.

3. Iran started evacuating its commanders and personnel from the Syrian territories as the Assad forces started their retreat, the New York Times reported on Friday.

4. Meanwhile, Turkey's Erdogan hailed the advances of rebels and hoped for their win. "The target is Damascus. I would say we hope for this advance to continue without any issues," he said.

5. United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken held talks with Turkish foreign minister Hakan Fidan for a political solution in Syria where rebel forces are advancing, the State Department said.

6. "Secretary Blinken emphasized the importance of protecting civilians, including members of minority groups, across Syria," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement.