A resident of Damascus has described a state of fear and alarm among people in the Syrian capital as anti-government rebels continue to tear through regime-held territory.
The resident, who asked to remain anonymous for security reasons, reported that Damascus is in a state of tension and panic. People are anxiously waiting to see what will happen, unsure of what to do. Some roads were blocked, shops in the neighborhood near the city center were closed, and food supplies were largely unavailable. Communications are functioning intermittently.
The military presence in the capital has significantly decreased, with a few troops remaining at checkpoints. Many soldiers are changing out of their uniforms into civilian clothes. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s military has denied reports of government troops withdrawing from the Damascus region.
Rebel fighters claimed to have seized the southwestern city of Daraa, the birthplace of the 2011 uprising. Armed fighters later penetrated the town of Kanaker in the Damascus countryside as the rebel coalition moved closer toward the capital.
