In northwest Syria, more than 280,000 people have been forced to leave their homes because of a sudden attack by a group called Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). The UN, which helps people in need, reports that many people are fleeing due to the recent increase in fighting in the area. Conditions are already tough after 13 years of war, and the UN is working to help those who are suffering the most.
In addition, many people in the city of Homs are also leaving their homes in fear as HTS is advancing towards the capital, Damascus. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reports that residents are running away to the western coast, where President Bashar al-Assad still has control.
HTS has made big gains in the fighting, capturing two important towns, Rastan and Talbiseh, in the Homs region. The leader of SOHR, Rami Abdel Rahman, noted that HTS is now just five kilometers away from Homs city. After taking control of the city of Hama to the north, the rebels are now aiming for Homs, which, if they capture it, would cut President Assad’s territory in half.
The conflict in Syria started back in 2011 when Assad tried to stop peaceful protests for democracy during the Arab Spring. Since then, over 300,000 civilians have lost their lives, and millions of people have been forced to leave their homes, according to the United Nations.
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