The uprising against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad intensifies as rebel groups capture significant territory across the country. Following gains in the northwest, where Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) took control near Homs, rebels are now advancing in the south and east, with reports of the Syrian Army offering little resistance. The fall of Homs could significantly impact the Assad regime, as it is a crucial point linking Damascus with the Mediterranean coast. Meanwhile, regional tensions rise as officials from Syria, Iran, and Iraq meet to discuss the escalating situation.