Photo: Reuters File
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad remains in Damascus and is continuing to fulfill his responsibilities, according to a statement from his office on Saturday. The office dismissed rumors that Assad had fled the capital as rebel forces close in, emphasizing that he is "following up on his work and national and constitutional duties from the capital." After years of being confined to frozen front lines, rebel forces have made significant strides, breaking out of their northwestern Idlib stronghold to achieve the most rapid battlefield progress by either side since the 2011 uprising against Assad escalated into civil war.
Earlier, Syrian rebels claimed they had taken control of the southern city of Daraa on Saturday. This city is the birthplace of the 2011 uprising against President Bashar al-Assad and marks the fourth city his forces have lost in the past week.
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