US urges citizens to swiftly leave Syria ‘while commercial options remain available’

WASHINGTON — US citizens in Syria should immediately leave the country “while commercial options remain available,” the State Department says, as Islamist-led rebel forces continue their offensive against President Bashar al-Assad’s troops.

“The security situation continues to be volatile and unpredictable with active clashes between armed groups throughout the country. The Department urges US citizens to depart Syria now while commercial options remain available,” the department says in a security alert posted on social media.

Syrian rebels take over southern city of Daraa in deal with army — rebel sources

Syrian rebel factions took over the key southern city of Daraa — which became “the cradle of the revolution” in 2011 — after they reached a deal with the army to secure its orderly withdrawal, rebel sources tell Reuters.

They say senior security and army officials serving in the city have been given safe passage to Damascus.

While Aleppo and Hama, the two other main cities taken from government control in recent days, fell to an Islamist-led rebel alliance, Daraa fell to local armed groups, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

“Local factions have taken control of more areas in Daraa province, including Daraa city… they now control more than 90 percent of the province, as regime forces successively pulled out,” says the Britain-based Observatory, which relies on a network of sources around Syria.

Daraa province borders Jordan.

Despite a truce brokered by Assad ally Russia, it has been plagued by unrest in recent years, with frequent attacks, clashes and assassinations.

Syrian rebels say they have reached the city limits of Homs

Syrian rebels have reached the city limits of Homs, making last call for Syrian forces to defect, rebels say on Telegram.