![\"Rebel](\"https:\/\/www.geo.tv\/assets\/uploads\/updates\/2024-12-06\/578275_8561071_updates.jpg\")
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- FO advises Pakistanis to avoid Syria visit until situation improves.<\/b><\/li>\n
- Those currently in Syria advised to remain in contact with embassy.<\/b><\/li>\n
- As per latest development, Syrian rebel forces advance on Homs.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\nIn view of the deteriorating law and order situation in Syria, the Foreign Office on Friday advised the Pakistani nationals against travelling to the violence-hit country.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
In a statement, FO said: \u201cPakistan nationals are advised to avoid unnecessary travel or visit to Syria until the situation improves.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 <\/p>\n
Those currently in Syria are advised to exercise extreme caution and remain in contact with the Embassy of Pakistan in Damascus, read the statement. <\/p>\n
As per the latest development, Syrian rebel forces advanced on the central city of Homs and Kurdish fighters seized effective control of the eastern desert today, jolting President Bashar al-Assad’s grip on power and triggering local revolts against his rule in the south.<\/p>\n
If the rebel forces capture Homs in their lightning new offensive, it would cut off the capital Damascus from the coast.<\/p>\n
In a parallel setback for Assad, a US-backed alliance led by Syrian Kurdish fighters took Deir el-Zor, the government’s main foothold in the vast desert in the east of the country, three Syrian sources told Reuters <\/i>on Friday.<\/p>\n
It was the third major city, after Aleppo and Hama in the northwest and centre, to fall out of Assad’s control in a week.<\/p>\n
Piling on the pressure, two Syrian army sources said the alliance known as the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) had swept through the nearby Albu Kamal border crossing with Iraq.<\/p>\n
In southern Deraa province, Syrian local fighters and former rebels overran one of the main army bases, known as Liwa 52, near Herak town as fighting spread to the southern border with Jordan, two rebel sources told Reuters <\/i>on Friday.<\/p>\n
They also seized parts of the Nassib border crossing with Jordan near the customs section where dozens of trailers and passenger cars were stranded, sources added.<\/p>\n
After years locked behind frozen front lines, rebel forces have burst out of their northwestern Idlib bastion to achieve the swiftest battlefield advance by either side since a street uprising against Assad mushroomed into civil war 13 years ago.<\/p>\n
Surprise offensive <\/h2>\n
The rebels’ sweep has taken the region by surprise and emboldened other opponents of Assad. Syrian rebel commander Hassan Abdul Ghany urged top military officers to defect, in a video statement aired on Friday.<\/p>\n
At least three people were killed in clashes between Druze militias and security forces in the southern Syrian city of Sweida on Friday, two witnesses and a local activist said.<\/p>\n
They said anti-government fighters also seized the main police station and the biggest civilian prison hours after hundreds of people protested in a square demanding Assad’s downfall.<\/p>\n
\n\u2014 Additional input from Reuters.<\/i>\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
- Those currently in Syria advised to remain in contact with embassy.<\/b><\/li>\n