GRAPHICS

Rebel Retreat in Homs, Syria

Mar 1, 2012 | 20:33 GMT

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(Stratfor)

Syria's armed opposition, the Free Syrian Army (FSA), began a "tactical" withdrawal from the Bab Amr district of Homs on March 1. On Feb. 29, the shelling of Bab Amr reportedly subsided as a ground incursion by Syria's 4th Armored Division began. Since early February, Homs and its surrounding districts have experienced near-daily mortar fire and shelling in an offensive by the Syrian military to rid the restive city of rebel fighters and to silence anti-regime demonstrators. There have been similar crackdown in other Syrian cities, such as Hama, Idlib and Daraa, but the assault against rebels in Homs has persisted for 27 days — longer than any other regime offensive. The FSA withdrawal from Bab Amr is certainly not the first, following a similar tactical withdrawal Jan. 30 from the suburbs of Damascus. A few days before that withdrawal, the Arab League observer mission in Syria was suspended, allowing the regime the opportunity to intensify their military offensive to regain areas in the Damascus suburbs that had reportedly fallen to the FSA. After retaking those areas, the Syrian military was able to focus on its offensive in Homs and the surrounding districts.