HTS Declares End Of Syrian Government As Extremists Swarm Damascus
Over the past 10 days, HTS and Syrian National Army (SNA) fighters – most of them former members of Al-Qaeda and ISIS – took control of the cities of Aleppo, Hama, and Homs before advancing on Damascus. Nevertheless, heavy battles were reported at the Sayyeda Zainab Shrine in Damascus, where a few dozen Shia Muslim fighters reportedly gathered to protect the holy site from the Salafi extremists.
In response, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) continuously “repositioned” its troops to avoid clashing with the extremists, citing the protection of civilians before folding entirely on Sunday.