The statue of Hafez al-Assad, father of its current president Syria Bashar al-Assaddemolished today (07.12.2024) by protesters in the central square of the suburb of Germana, which is about 10 kilometers from the center of Damascus.
This suburb in Syria, where protesters destroyed the statue depicting Bashar al-Assad’s father, is mainly inhabited by Druze.
The protesters, who they were calling for the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assadheaded for government buildings in an area of the capital where many branches of the security services are based.
Meanwhile, Syrian rebels said they had “started encircling the capital Damascus” after capturing several major cities in the north, center and south within days.
“Our forces have begun the final phase of the encirclement of the capital Damascus,” said one of the rebel commanders, Hassan Abdel Ghani. However, the Ministry of Defense denied this, saying that “the information according to which our armed forces, which are present in all areas of the Damascus countryside, have withdrawn is unfounded.”
Wow!!!
In the heart of Damascus, in the Jaramana neighborhood, the statue of Hafez al-Assad has been toppled.
Damascus is under siege from all sides. pic.twitter.com/0ZSNdvQpIV
— Omar Abu Layla (@OALD24) December 7, 2024
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the army withdrew from its positions in communities just 10 kilometers southwest of Damascus, which are now controlled by local rebels. Ghani said his forces captured the headquarters of the military intelligence agency, located near the capital, and were “continuing” their march towards the capital.
On the other side of the country, on the border with Iraq, dozens of Syrian soldiers crossed the Al Qaim border crossing and entered Iraqi territory, in coordination with the Iraqi army, local officials and security sources said.
Druze seized bases in Sweida
Druze militias have captured most of the Syrian army’s bases in Sweida province, which borders Jordan, leaving only one large base north of the city of Sweida, rebel sources told Reuters.
Khalhala Air Base, north of the city, remains under the control of the army and its forces are regrouping At the headquarters of the special forces unit, based in the town of Sweida, many deserted en masse, according to the rebels.
Hundreds of soldiers have taken refuge in Druze community centers, the same sources added.
The article Jihadists surround Damascus – Protesters tear down statue of Hafez al-Assad in suburbs was published on NewsIT .