Assad Regime
Biden administration officials closely monitoring developments in Syria have suggested that the regime of President Bashar al-Assad could collapse within days, as rebel forces advance rapidly toward Damascus.
Reports indicate that rebels are now within 30 kilometers of the capital, raising questions about the regime’s survival.
Officials noted that Assad’s grip on power is increasingly fragile. One official told CNN, “Probably by next weekend, the Assad regime will have lost any semblance of power.”
They added that the only scenario that could delay a rebel takeover would be a well-organized coup or internal reorganization. However, Assad’s inner circle has been adept at suppressing potential challengers, making such an outcome unlikely.
The remarks from US officials come amid a dramatic shift in Syria’s civil war, with rebels making significant gains. Fighting has intensified around Homs, a strategically critical city connecting the capital to Assad’s Alawite stronghold on the coast.
Rebel commanders and local residents have reported breaching government defenses on multiple fronts in Homs, capturing an army camp and several villages.
State media, however, maintains that government forces are holding their positions on the outskirts of Homs, using artillery and drone strikes to repel the attackers.
Meanwhile, the Pentagon, which has 900 troops stationed in Syria, has not changed its military stance but has implemented heightened security measures in response to the evolving situation.
The possibility of Assad fleeing the country is under discussion, with Moscow or Tehran considered likely destinations if the regime falls.
Despite these speculations, state media insists that Assad remains in Damascus and that reinforcements are being mobilized to bolster government defenses.
The rebels’ recent capture of Aleppo has had a domino effect, leading to the swift collapse of government positions across the country.
In the suburbs of Damascus, protesters have torn down symbols of the Assad family, joined by deserting soldiers. However, the regime continues to assert its resilience, highlighting the uncertainty surrounding the conflict’s resolution.
