Syria War Live Updates: As the fighting between the forces led by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and the anti-government rebels raged on, the rebels on Sunday announced full control of Homs, the third main city in the nation, and are on their way toward Damascus. The rebel alliance, led by Islamist leader Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, launched its offensive on November 27. Since then, Aleppo – the second largest city, and Hamas fell to them.

Syria’s civil war, which began with Assad’s crackdown on democracy protests, has killed more than 5,00,000 people and forced more than half the population to flee their homes. According to the United Nations, the violence has displaced 3.7 lakh people.

US President-elect Donald Trump reacted to the raging conflict in Syria, saying that the US should “not get involved” in the situation. “Syria is a mess, but is not our friend, and the United States should have nothing to do with it. This is not our fight. Let it play out. Do not get involved,” he said on his Truth Social platform.

Here are the latest live updates on the Syria war:

1. Punjab farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said the farmer bodies, Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, have decided that a group of 101 farmers will start their march to Delhi in a peaceful manner around noon today.
2. Mr Pandher has also denied having received any message from the government for talks. “We have not received any message from the Centre for holding talks. The government is in no mood to hold talks,” he said while addressing the media yesterday.
3. A heavy deployment of police personnel has been made at Shambhu border. Barricades have been erected and nails fixed on the roads to stop vehicles from crossing, showed visuals this morning.
4. Haryana Police has also appealed to mediapersons to maintain proper distance from the gathering at Shambhu border and other places.
5. The state police chief has also been asked to stop journalists covering the protests about 1 km before the Punjab-Haryana border.
6. The farmers have been protesting over various demands, which includes a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP), a farm debt waiver, pension for farmers and no hike in electricity tariff.
7. They are also demanding the withdrawal of police cases against farmers and “justice” for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence, besides reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013.
8. The farmers had suspended their footmarch at Shambhu on Friday after the police used teargas to stop them from proceeding towards the capital.
9. At least 16 farmers suffered injuries in teargas shelling, said Mr Pandher, adding that one of them lost hearing ability.
10. Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait, national spokesperson of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), has called for unity among the farmers and said they are exploited because they are divided. Talking about the ongoing protest, he said they will talk to the authorities.

Amid a sweeping rebel offensive, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s whereabouts are unknown, with unverified reports suggesting he fled Damascus. Rebels have seized key cities, leaving Assad’s regime clinging to a few strongholds. Even allies like Hezbollah and Iran are reportedly reducing their support, as the conflict intensifies and Assad’s grip on power weakens.