Live Update 
From the Liveblog of
Sunday, December 8, 2024
From the Liveblog of
Sunday, December 8, 2024
Rebels enter Homs as Syrian soldiers flee; Western officials say Assad could be ousted in days
A Syrian opposition fighter holds a rocket launcher in front of the provincial government office, where an image of Syrian President Bashar Assad is riddled with bullets on the facade, in the aftermath of the opposition's takeover of Hama, Syria, December 6, 2024. (AP/Ghaith Alsayed)
Syrian rebel commander Hassan Abdul Ghany says that rebel forces have started entering the key city of Homs.
The rebels later say they have freed more than 3,500 inmates from the Homs military prison.
Security personnel from the main security headquarters in Homs are fleeing on motorcycles, residents tell Reuters.
The rebel advance suggests that Assad’s government could be on the verge of collapse, officials tell Reuters on condition of anonymity. One US official puts the potential timeframe at five to 10 days, while another says Assad could be ousted in the coming week. A Western official agreed with the latter assessment.
