Thread by @NOELreports

A thread covering the events in Syria. After HTS-led rebel forces took control over Hama, they moved south and have been spotted in Al-Dar Al-Kabira, just ~5km to Homs city center. Ar-Rastan an Talbiseh are likely already under rebel control. It is going fast and the SAA is collapsing.

Map visuals from UAlivemap.

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Rebel forces have indeed already taken Talbiseh and moved further south to Homs. It is really not inconceivable that they start the battle of Homs today. The question is whether the SAA will offer any resistance at all.

Local uprisings are now emerging in many places. In Inkhil near Daraa, in southern Syria, local residents aligned with HTS-led rebels have driven SAA forces out of the village. This is expected to happen in many more places.

Directly north of Homs, HTS-led rebel forces have taken control over two more villages: Teir Maalah and Al-Ghantu.

HTS-led rebel commander Lieutenant Colonel Hassan Abdul Ghani:

"The remnants of the Syrian regime are witnessing a major collapse and flee before our forces arrive. We have secured the defection of several military groups of regime soldiers, and other groups are still coordinating with us to defect in Homs and its countryside."

HTS-led rebels from inside Salamiyah, east of Hama. The city was taken over after a deal with the Shiite leaders of Salamiyah's Ismaili sect who laid down their arms in return for a peaceful transition.

North and northeast of Homs, the HTS-led rebel forces secured many more villages after SAA's withdrawal: Al-Za'farana, Al-Majd, Deir Foul, Asila, Abu Hamam, Al-Hashimiya, Al-Farahaniyya Al-Sharqiya and Al-Farahaniya Al-Ghasibiyya, Al-Makramiyya, Al-Sa'an, Izz Al-Din and Granada

Local uprising: According to local sources, rebels seized control of the Air Force Intelligence branch outpost belonging to Assad's forces in the town of al-Jiza, eastern Daraa.

Rebel forces entering Talbiseh, north of Homs.

Deir Ez-Zor is starting to move as well. A video reportedly shows that Assad forces (4th and 17th Divisions) have withdrawn from the city of Al-Quriyah in Deir ez-Zor, eastern Syria. This is significant as it is located on the other bank of the Euphrates which was the natural barrier between SDF and SAA forces.

SAA troop movement noted in the western part of Deir Ez-Zor province. It is unknown whether this is another retreat or reinforcement.

Local uprising: As expected, more and more SAA checkpoints come under control of locals who side with HTS-led rebels advancing in the north. The Ghariyah Sharqiyah checkpoint and a checkpoint in Samlin village, Daraa province, are no longer SAA controlled.

While the focus is on HTS-led rebel forces, the SDF is also advancing southeast of Raqqah. The SDF has captured Sabkhah, southeastern countryside of Raqqa.

An SAA mechanized column, reportedly on the Deir Ez-Zor-Damascus highway. Possibly evacuating equipment.

Commander-in-chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces General Mazloum Abdî stated: "We have enough forces to protect our people in northeastern Syria. There is a vacuum in Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor, which ISIS has tried to exploit. We are coordinating with the international coalition to confront ISIS and other terror groups. The rapid developments after the withdrawal of government forces have created a vacuum, especially in the Syrian desert, but we are taking action. Our joint efforts with the coalition against ISIS remain strong. A political solution is needed for Syria's future, and we are ready for dialogue to achieve this."

Drones are spotted over Damascus near Assad's presidential palace as air defense attempts to shoot them down.

The Syrian revolution flag was raised in the town of Da'el, in the Daraa countryside on the southern border with Jordan. Seems like the work of locals siding with rebel forces. In Daraa province, more and more local uprisings are happening.

Another pocket of resistance: Local factions now control the SAA military security detachment and its checkpoint in the town of Barqa, Daraa province.

Southern Syria is crumbling for Assad as well. Daraa local fighters arrested SAA soldiers near Inkhil and captured an armored vehicle after seizing the State Security checkpoint in Nimr.

Rebel forces have taken control of the Al-Rastan Dam, north of Homs.

In the Daraa province, southern Syria, locals have seized a tank from SAA forces. At several locations in the province, skirmishes are happening between locals and Assad loyalists. This is 2011 all over again.

A Syrian army member announces his defection in Al-Karamah Square in As-Suwayda southern Syria, in an interview with Suwayda24, confirming that local civil groups helped secure and protect him.

I think we are witnessing the downfall of Assad. In many places, uprisings and anti-government protests are happening. In lots of area's in southern Syria, far away from the battlefield near Homs, local factions overthrow SAA forces and take over control or SAA units simply defect. In the east, Deir Ez-Zor front is also crumbling with the SDF marching in.

Assad seems to have lost control.

The SDF has taken control over Deir Ez-Zor military Airport, and is now driving into the province capital itself.

Southern Operations Room rebels establish a Coordination Office for defections of all soldiers and officers in Daraa, Quneitra, and Suwayda. Looks like they are using momentum in the south.

The Russian embassy in Damascus urgently asks its citizens to leave Syria

Looks like Latakia province is next. Rebel forces spearheaded by the Turkistan Islamic Party in Syria are reportedly attacking SAA-held area.

Rebel factions take control of the Nassib border crossing with Jordan south of Daraa.

A Russian Ka-52 attack helicopter and Mil Mi-8 transport helicopter are relocating from Homs to Damascus.

Opposition factions in Daraa gain control of the Al-Ray checkpoint, scientific research area, universities, and cow farm after SAA forces retreat toward Daraa city. Defections were secured near Al-Ray, while the "Southern Operations Room" now holds the "Old Customs" checkpoint in Daraa Al-Balad.

The Christian community of Mahardah together with rebel forces after the city was captured from SAA forces through peaceful negotiations with its residents.

Local factions and rebels in the city of Al-Hirak, eastern rural Daraa, have taken full control of Brigade 52 after SAA forces withdrew. The SAA is collapsing like domino.

Important: According to AFP, Syrian troops have withdrawn from the key city of Homs. Losing Homs would mean naval cities like Tartous and Latakia are basically cut off from Damascus.

SAA has withdrawn from Deir Ez-Zor. The SDF is now in control.

Fierce clashes are now taking place inside the city of Suwayda and information indicates that the SAA's military security branch has been besieged.

SDF has taken control over several towns near Deir Ez-Zor including the Al-Bukamal border crossing with Iraq.

Local factions in support of rebel forces in the north took over Brigade 52 in the Daraa countryside.

Changes to southern Syria after a day of uprisings. In Daraa province, lots of villages were captured by local factions and rebels who united under the 'Southern Command' flag. It seems that we haven't seen a fraction of the villages that are already out of government control.

Expected. US-backed NSA rebels near Al-Tanf have moved towards Palmyra in an attempt to take advantage of the power vacuum in the area after SAA forces left. Another faction that wants a piece of the pie.

Syrian government control over southern Syria has completely collapsed. Rebels from The Southern Operations Room controls the entire city of Daraa and dozens of cities, towns and military barracks.

Rebel forces announce the elimination of brigadier general "Joseph Naddour", commander of the SAA's 152nd Infantry Regiment of the Republican Guard in the Hama countryside after clashes.

Russian air defense systems, on the move towards the coastal city of Latakia.

Syria the last 24 hours.

In SDF-held territory, pockets that held SAA-forces were cleared and taken under full control. It is unclear if SAA units were granted safe passage towards SAA-held territory, if they defected or were taken captive.

SAA units have withdrawn from the city of As-Sanamayn, north of Daraa. It seems like all remaining SAA-forces willing to fight have completely pulled back to Damascus and its surroundings.

Rebel factions have taken control of the SAA Al-Batal Palace sites on the international road between Amman and Damascus, near the town of Saida in eastern Daraa. They captured abandoned SAA equipment.