Syrian forces withdraw from central city of Homs, cutting President Assad off from coast

Syrian government forces withdrew from the key city of Homs on Saturday, marking a significant setback for President Bashar al-Assad’s rule. Insurgents continued to press towards the capital, Damascus, raising concerns about the collapse of Assad’s government, news agency Reuters reported.

The withdrawal from Homs followed a rapid series of defeats for Syrian government forces, which lost control of several major cities in recent days. Rebels, who had gained momentum after seizing Aleppo last week, reignited opposition in areas where resistance had previously been suppressed.

This is a developing story. It will be updated.