For today, links to eight reports: from the Anadolu Agency, Reuters, the Associated Press and National Public Radio, and to commentary from Middle East Eye; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date, so far, and a MEDIA entry are HERE, HERE and HERE.) — MCM

–   –   –

NEWER  Armed groups enter southern suburbs of Damascus. From Anadolu Agency. DAMASCUS — Armed groups opposed to Bashar al-Assad’s regime began entering Damascus’ southern suburbs today. They advanced toward central Damascus after capturing . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

U.S.-backed Syrian Free Army takes control of Homs’ Palmyra district from regime forces. From Anadolu Agency. HOMS, Syria  Forces of the U.S.-backed Syrian Free Army, operates in the Al-Tanf region at the crossroads of Syria, Iraq, and Jordan, have taken control of Palmyra in the eastern countryside of the Syrian province of Homs after . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Syrian rebels enter suburbs of key city of Homs, sources say, by Suleiman Al-Khalidi and Timour Azhari | Reuters  AMMAN / BEIRUT — Syrian rebels entered suburbs of the key city of Homs today, sources said, pressing a lightning week-long advance as front lines collapse across the country and government forces battle to save President Bashar al-Assad’s 24-year rule. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Russian bases in Syria threatened by insurgent advance, say Moscow’s war bloggers, by Andrew Osborn | Reuters  — Two strategically-important Russian military facilities in Syria and Moscow’s very presence in the Middle East are under serious threat from rapidly advancing insurgents, Russian war bloggers have warned. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Syrian troops withdraw from the south of the country as they rush to defend Homs, by Bassem Mroue | AP  BEIRUT — The Syrian army withdrew from much of southern Syria today, leaving more areas of the country, including two provincial capitals, under the control of opposition fighters, the military and an opposition war monitor said. The redeployment . . .READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Iron-fisted Assad under threat as Syrian rebels draw closer. From Reuters — President Bashar al-Assad used Russian and Iranian firepower to beat back rebel forces during years of civil war but never defeated them, leaving him vulnerable when his allies were distracted by wars elsewhere and his enemies went on the march. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Syrian rebels make further inroads in major cities. Reported by Jane Arraf and Elissa Nadworny | NPR  The Assad regime is Syria is looking increasingly fragile as rebels take control of more of the country’s territory. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

–   –   –

FROM DEC. 6  What does the Syrian rebel takeover mean for the Assad regime? Reported by Michael Levitt, Ruth Sherlock and Ari Shapiro | NPR  Syrian rebels have taken two major cities and are closing in on a third. What does all this mean for the Assad regime? Click HERE to listen and read.

–   –   –

FROM DEC. 5  Why Syria is more relevant today than before, by Kamal Alam | Middle East Eye  Amid the swift and stunning collapse of Aleppo following an assault led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which is internationally sanctioned as a terrorist group, it is important to pause and recall that we have been here before. The advance by HTS and Turkish-backed . . . READ MORE . . .