Gunfire Erupts in Damascus Amid Alleged Coup Attempt as Rebel Forces Advance in Northern Syria, Seizing Key Cities
DAMASCUS, SYRIA – Gunfire and explosions shattered the calm of Syria’s capital on Saturday night, sparking rumors of an attempted coup d’état against President Bashar al-Assad.
The official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) went silent, with its television network off the air and its websites inaccessible. Witnesses reported clashes near key government buildings, including the general staff headquarters and the state media complex.
Top Security Official Allegedly Behind Coup Attempt
Reports suggest Brigadier General Hassam Louka, head of Syria’s general security directorate, is leading the coup effort. Assad, who was reportedly outside the country at the time, remains unaccounted for. A Russian military plane landed briefly at Damascus International Airport Saturday night, fueling speculation that Assad was returning from Moscow. However, other reports suggest the Syrian president and his family are still in Russia.
Infighting Breaks Out in Damascus
Fierce clashes erupted between Assad’s elite Syrian Republican Guard and the Syrian Arab Army’s 4th Division in the Kfar Sousa district. Gunfire was directed at several government buildings, intensifying concerns over a regime fracture.
Northern Syria Falls to Rebel Forces
In a simultaneous blow to the regime, Islamist militant coalition Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) seized control of Aleppo, Syria’s second-largest city, on Friday night. The group also advanced southward, capturing 26 towns in Hama province, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
HTS forces are reportedly pushing toward Homs, with unconfirmed reports of Assad’s troops destroying their own weapon warehouses in the area to prevent them from falling into rebel hands.
What’s Next for Syria?
As chaos engulfs Damascus and northern Syria, the future of the Assad regime remains uncertain. The unfolding crisis could mark a pivotal shift in the country’s 13-year-long conflict.
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