The Syrian regime denied that Bashar al-Assad has left Syrian territory, stating that he is continuing his work from the capital, Damascus, coinciding with the announcement by opposition fighters that they are encircling the city.

The Syrian Presidency’s Facebook page stated today, Saturday, December 7, that Bashar al-Assad is present in Damascus and is continuing his “national and constitutional duties,” denying reports of his departure or any brief visits to other countries.

It mentioned that all news and activities related to Bashar al-Assad are issued from the platforms of the “Syrian Presidency and the Syrian National Media.”

It considered any contrary information to be part of “rumors and their exposed objectives,” describing them as attempts to mislead and influence the Syrian state and society.

In recent days, entities affiliated with or close to the Syrian regime have warned against video or audio recordings that might be published by the opposition as part of what they call the “media war” against the regime, relying on “artificial intelligence,” the latest of which involved Defense Minister, General Ali Mahmoud Abbas, on December 5.

The talk of al-Assad’s presence in Damascus coincides with the approach of Syrian opposition fighters to encircle the city after the regime’s withdrawal from the three main provinces in southern Syria: Daraa, As-Suwayda, and Quneitra.

Lieutenant Colonel Hassan Abdul Ghani, from the Military Operations Administration that unites the opposition factions, said hours ago that the forces have begun executing the final phase of encircling the capital, Damascus.

According to what was monitored by Enab Baladi, the Syrian regime completed its withdrawal from Daraa, As-Suwayda, Quneitra, and parts of rural western Damascus, allowing local opposition fighters to seize vital towns in rural Damascus, namely Zakia, Kanakar, Sasa, al-Kisweh, Darayya, and Mouadamiyat al-Sham.

Today, residents from the Jaramana area in rural Damascus smashed a statue of Hafez al-Assad, Bashar al-Assad’s father, amid chants of “Syria is ours, not for the Assad family; long live Syria, and down with Bashar al-Assad.”

The regime deployed snipers in towns in the Eastern Ghouta, placing them on the rooftops of tall buildings, schools, and intersections, especially in the towns located in the center of the Ghouta east of Damascus, indicating a desire to fortify the area with fears of any military movement in the region.

Syria is witnessing military operations in various areas, most notably the “Deterrence of Aggression” operation launched by opposition factions against the Syrian regime and its allies on November 27, which allowed them to seize the cities of Aleppo and Hama and dozens of villages and towns, while attempting to take control of the city of Homs after entering several areas within it.

Fighters of the Free Syria Army are advancing towards the countryside of Homs, As-Suwayda, and Damascus from the east, following the Syrian regime’s withdrawal from Palmyra and the two villages.

The Syrian National Army (SNA), supported by Turkey, is conducting the “Dawn of Freedom” operation in the northern and eastern countryside of Aleppo against the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the regime.