Syrian rebels’ unrelenting pursuit to take back cities

The advance of rebel forces in Syria accelerated at pace this afternoon, weakening President Bashar al-Assad’s grip on power with each and every foothold lost.

The head of the group leading the assault, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, says the goal is to overthrow the President and bring Syrian refugees back home from Lebanon and Europe.

Right now, rebels are closing in on Syria’s third largest city, Homs, around 40km south of Hama which they captured yesterday.

Meanwhile in the south, around the city of Deraa, clashes between rebels and regime forces are intensifying.

In eastern Syria Kurdish-led rebel fighters have taken control of Deir Ez-zor, as Syrian government troops and their Iranian allies withdrew.

Overnight, Israeli jets struck several border crossings between Syria and Lebanon.