DAMASCUS — Insurgents in Syria advanced to the suburbs of Damascus on Saturday, marking a major escalation in their offensive and prompting the government to deny rumors that President Bashar Assad had fled the country.

The advances, led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group, have drastically reduced government control, leaving it with only four of Syria’s 14 provincial capitals.

The insurgents' progress has sparked panic in Damascus, with residents rushing to stockpile essentials and some fleeing to the border with Lebanon. Shops in the capital shuttered, and basic goods sold out or were priced exorbitantly.

For the first time since 2018, opposition fighters have reached the outskirts of the city, including areas such as Maadamiyah and Daraya.

The rapid offensive has been attributed to minimal resistance from government forces, who have shifted their focus to defending the central city of Homs.

HTS has captured key cities such as Aleppo and Hama in recent days and is reportedly encircling Damascus.

Diplomatic efforts to address the crisis unfolded in Doha, Qatar, where foreign ministers and senior diplomats from eight nations, including Russia, Iran, and Saudi Arabia, held discussions on Syria's future. U.N. special envoy Geir Pedersen has called for urgent talks in Geneva to implement a political transition, emphasizing the deteriorating situation on the ground.

As insurgents continue their push, the Syrian government faces increasing isolation, with Russia and Iran unable to provide the support they once did.

Meanwhile, international leaders are urging swift diplomatic action to prevent further destabilization and preserve Syria’s territorial integrity. — Agencies