Thousands flee as militants seize two Syrian towns

Thousands of people fled the central Syrian city of Homs, the country's third largest, as militants seized two towns on the outskirts on Friday, positioning themselves for an assault on a potentially major prize in their march against President Bashar Al Assad.

The move, reported by pro-government media and an opposition war monitor, was the latest in the stunning advances by opposition fighters over the past week that have so far met little resistance from Assad's forces.

A day earlier, militants captured the central city of Hama, Syria's fourth largest, after the army said it withdrew to avoid fighting inside the city and spare the lives of civilians.

The fighters, led by the militant Hayat Tahrir Al Sham (HTS) group, have vowed to march to Homs and the capital, Damascus, Assad's seat of power.
Videos circulating online showed a highway jammed with cars full of people fleeing Homs.

Homs province is Syria's largest in size and borders Lebanon, Iraq and Jordan. The foreign ministers of Iran, Iraq and Syria - three close allies – gathered on Friday in Baghdad to consult on the rapidly changing war. Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein expressed "deep concern," saying his government is closely following the situation in Syria.

Syrian Foreign Minister Bassam Sabbagh said the current developments may pose "a serious threat to the security of the region as a whole."

The militants on Friday took over the towns of Rastan and Talbiseh, putting them 5 km from Homs, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor. "The battle of Homs is the mother of all battles and will decide who will rule Syria," said Rami Abdurrahman, the Observatory's chief.

Residents leave the city carrying their belongings in Hama, Syria. AP

Pro-government Sham FM said the militants entered Rastan and Talbiseh without facing any resistance.  There was no immediate comment from the Syrian military. The Observatory said Syrian troops had left Homs.  But the military denied that in comments reported by the state news agency SANA, saying troops were reinforcing their positions in the city and were "ready to repel" any assault.

Along with HTS, the fighters include forces of an umbrella group of Turkish-backed Syrian militias called the Syrian National Army.

On Friday, the US dollar was selling on Syria's parallel market for about 18,000 pounds, a 25% drop from a week ago.

When Syria's conflict erupted in March 2011, a dollar was valued at 47 pounds.

The drop further undermines the purchasing power of Syrians at a time when the UN has warned that 90% of the population is below the poverty line.
Associated Press