Syrian troops and their Iran-backed allies have pulled out of Deir Ezzor city and its surrounding areas, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR). The sudden withdrawal of the regime forces and their allied groups has raised questions about the shifting dynamics of the region. SOHR’s Rami Abdel Rahman confirmed that military columns were seen heading towards the central Palmyra region after leaving Deir Ezzor.
Deir Ezzor city, located in an oil-rich region bordering Iraq, has been a key stronghold for Iranian forces since the onset of Syria’s civil war in 2011. It is home to Iranian advisers and various Iranian institutions, including schools and a cultural center. The province itself is divided between Kurdish forces to the east of the Euphrates River and government-controlled areas to the west, where Iranian-backed Syrian forces, including Iraqi militias, operate.
The pullout of Syrian forces comes as rebel forces in the country have launched a significant offensive targeting President Bashar al-Assad’s regime. Led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the offensive has seen key cities such as Aleppo and Hama fall from government control. The rebel forces are now pushing towards Homs, and capturing this strategic city would sever the link between Damascus, the capital, and the Mediterranean coast, a critical base for Assad’s support.
Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, leader of the HTS, confirmed that the ultimate goal of the offensive is to overthrow Assad’s regime. “The goal of the revolution remains the overthrow of this regime. We are using all means to achieve that,” Jolani said in a recent interview.
As the rebels advanced, thousands of civilians, particularly members of the Alawite minority, began fleeing Homs in fear of the escalating conflict. Local resident Khaled described the scene as “the road leading to Tartus was glowing from the lights of hundreds of cars heading out.” Fear has gripped the city, with one resident, Haidar, noting, “We are extremely afraid, we don’t know what is happening.”
The UN reports that the violence has displaced 280,000 people, with numbers expected to rise to 1.5 million. The escalating conflict has led to numerous casualties, with at least 826 people reported dead since the offensive began on November 27, according to SOHR.
The rebels’ success in capturing key cities, along with the Syrian army’s strategic withdrawal from certain areas, marks a significant shift in the ongoing civil war. Analysts suggest that if the rebels capture Homs, it could signal the collapse of Assad’s regime as a credible state entity, further isolating Damascus from its coastal strongholds.
