ALBAWABA - While moving toward Homs city, Syrian armed opposition groups have taken control of Al-Rastan and Talbiseh in northern rural Homs. The Syrian army tried to stop the opposition by damaging Al-Rastan Bridge, a vital lifeline to the city.
The opposition posted footage of their soldiers invading the two towns, 20 km south of Hama and 12 km from Homs.
A Syrian regime army officer told Reuters that Russian airstrikes overnight targeted Al-Rastan Bridge on the main road to Homs to prevent "rebels" from utilizing it. The officer said eight strikes struck the bridge and that regime forces have sent reinforcements to Homs.
A crucial flashpoint is Homs, the first city to be displaced under a UN-brokered ceasefire in mid-2014.
The opposition announced complete control over Hama city, following successful clearing operations. Al Jazeera entered Hama Military Airport, a military airbase used to quell protesters in Hama, Idlib, and Aleppo.
Al Jazeera's journalist Suhaib Al-Khalaf reports that opposition fighters have set up checkpoints at Hama's entrances and main streets and closed government buildings to protect public property.
On Friday, the Syrian regime ceded Deir ez-Zor to the SDF. Local sources said that government soldiers left seven villages including Deir ez-Zor Military Airport, which the SDF took seized.
On Friday, opposition factions in Damascus launched a drone attack on the state media headquarters and Ministry of Defense building in Umayyad Square. Local sources told Anadolu Agency that the attack created major unrest, but the regime has not commented.
Opposition factions in Daraa, Suwayda, and Quneitra announced the formation of the "Southern Operations Room" to coordinate military efforts. In their first statement, they pledged to secure southern Syria’s borders and work toward stability in the region. The operations room also called on regime soldiers and officers to defect.
The opposition confirmed capturing the strategic Tel al-Hara area in rural Daraa and a key military base known as Brigade 52 near Al-Hirak. Additionally, local factions in Suwayda reported taking over several regime checkpoints and a tank in the town of Qarya.
