Photo: AREF TAMMAWI/AFP
It's reported Islamist-led rebels may be closing in on Homs - the country's third biggest city - as they continue their advance after taking Hama on Thursday.
It's the largest offensive in years launched by opposition fighters in Syria.
It took Bashar al-Assad's government and many others by surprise as the fighters, led by a group called Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, took the second biggest city of Aleppo a matter of days ago.
Bashar Al Assad has largely held an iron grip on the country since the civil war over a decade ago - this week-long lightening advance is a blow to Syria's dictator, and his allies Russia, Iran and Hezbollah.
BBC Security Correspondent Frank Gardner explains the latest developments.
