Insurgency in Syria; South Korea's Political Chaos; Pope Creates 21
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What are the latest developments in the Syrian conflict?
Syrian rebels are gaining momentum as they push their way towards the city of Homs. Government forces were unable to stop the insurgents from taking five towns in less than two weeks. I'm Alyssa Nadwarny. And I'm Ayesha Roscoe, and this is Up First from NPR News. Syrian forces are battling to keep insurgents out of the strategically crucial city of Homs. We'll have the latest developments on this story. Plus, in South Korea, political chaos after the president declared martial law. He's now facing calls to resign as lawmakers fight over whether to impeach him. We'll have the latest from Seoul. Plus, Pope Francis promotes 21 men to the Catholic Church's College of Cardinals. Stay with us. We have the news you need to start your weekend.
A new chapter has started in the long-running Syrian civil war, after a coalition of rebel forces took several key cities.
They haven't faced much opposition from government forces until today, as they fight to make their way to the city of Homs, less than 90 miles away from the capital Damascus.
NPR's Jane Araf is in the Kurdish region of northern Iraq, near the Syrian border. Good morning, Jane.
Good morning, Alyssa.
So since this offensive started some two weeks ago, we've seen developments on the ground moving at a lightning pace. What's the latest?
Well, the speed and the pace of this offensive is astonishing. A monitoring group, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, now says that opposition fighters are just a few miles from the gates of the capital, Damascus. They earlier took Daraa province, which was the start of the uprising that led to civil war more than a decade ago, and they appear close to be taking the major city of Homs, which would allow the opposition to isolate regime forces in coastal areas, Latakia and Tartus, which are key to President Bashar al-Assad's support.
You just mentioned Tartus, where Russia has one of its few foreign bases. What is Russia doing at the moment?
Well, it appears to be pulling out its warships, according to U.S. military sources. It propped up the Syrian regime the last time that the government faced a much more limited threat. And Russia is still launching airstrikes in support of the Syrian government, but it doesn't seem able or willing to devote the resources it has in the past.
So I guess the big question here has to be if this insurgency could result in the fall of the Assad regime. And if that happens, what would that mean for Iran?
So when the Syrian regime 10 years ago lost control of Aleppo, the major city, Russia and Iran helped retake it. But They're both now in much weaker positions because they're fighting other conflicts. Muaz Mustafa, who is an activist, the director of the U.S.-based Syrian Emergency Task Force, says these territorial losses we're seeing are of huge significance to Iran, which has used Syria as a corridor to send weapons and fighters to Lebanon and Iraq.
What political chaos is happening in South Korea?
its logistical hub in the Middle East. It has lost its connection of Tehran and Baghdad to Beirut or Damascus or the border of Jordan or the border of the Golden Heights or the border of Israel.
So there are a lot of borders there, as you can see. And while speaking, Mustafa was getting calls from other activists who have been working for years for this moment and what they hope will follow. Thirteen years of gathering opposition forces, getting international support, building cases of war crimes against Syrian officials. You know, in this region, Syria for centuries has been considered sort of the beating heart of the Middle East. And between the civil war, the Syrian regime actions and sanctions, the country has been shattered. So for the opposition, it seems like the first time in a decade that there's a real chance of building a new Syria. But, Alyssa, to do that, obviously, they'll have to include regime supporters and what is still a divided opposition.
So refugees are obviously a huge concern here. Five million people fled Syria during the civil war. Would some of these Syrians go back in the event of a regime change?
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Chapters
6 chapters
1
What are the latest developments in the Syrian conflict?
0:02–3:21
2
What political chaos is happening in South Korea?
3:21–5:52
3
How is the Syrian insurgency affecting Iran?
5:52–7:43
4
What challenges do Syrian refugees face?
7:43–8:53
5
Why did South Korea's president declare martial law?
8:53–9:39
6
What is the status of the impeachment efforts in South Korea?
9:39–13:30
Speakers
6 identifiedMore from Up First from NPR
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