Die Freie Syrische Armee hat die Stadt Yabrud erobert, durch die die strategische Autobahn M5 führt, und unterbricht damit effektiv die Verbindung zwischen Damaskus und Homs durch regierungstreue Kräfte, während die syrische Opposition ihre Angriffe auf beide Städte beginnt.

The Syrian opposition forces ranging from the Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham in the northwest, Southern Operations Room in the south and the Syrian Free Army from the southeast have all been going on an offensive against the pro-government regime in Syria, one of the main 3 Syrian opposition groups, the Syrian Free Army have captured the City of Yabrud, as well as the nearby border with Lebanon. The City of Yabrud is at the center of the strategic M5 Highway that connects Damascus, Homs, Hama and Aleppo. With the City’s takeover by the Syrian Free Army, the pro-government forces have effectively been split in half as the opposition forces have started intensifying their attacks on both major Cities of Damascus and Homs.

The real prize geopolitically is Tartus, the Russian naval base there. If reports are true Russia is withdrawing its Med fleet, which will now have no home and severely limit their force projection.