India issues travel advisory for Syria: What's happening there?

In light of the worsening conflict, the Indian government has issued a travel advisory for Syria, strongly urging Indian nationals to avoid traveling to the country. Here's what you need to know about the current conflict. (AP photo)

The Syrian civil war, which started in 2011, has been a prolonged tragedy for millions of people. Over 500,000 people have lost their lives, including more than 200,000 civilians, as a result of the violence.

Until recently, Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, known for his oppressive rule, was in a dominant position. (ANI photo)

The situation took a dramatic turn recently when islamist militants in Syria's northwest launched a surprise attack on forces loyal to president Bashar al-Assad.

The rebels have made significant territorial gains, capturing several important cities, including Aleppo, Syria's largest city, and Hama.

As of Friday, they have also captured Homs, Syria's third-largest city, and are advancing toward Damascus, the capital. (PTI photo)

The rebel forces pushing back against Assad's regime are mainly led by HTS and a coalition of Turkish-backed militias known as the Syrian national army, though Turkey has denied direct involvement.

Reports from government-controlled media like Sham FM confirm that the rebels have managed to enter areas held by Assad's forces without facing resistance. (PTI photo)

The economic situation in Syria has worsened with the recent opposition offensive, leading to panic buying of food and essential supplies.

People are scrambling to prepare for more uncertainty, as the situation on the ground becomes more dire with each passing day. (PTI photo)

Tens of thousands of civilians have been displaced by the ongoing violence, with the majority being women and children.

According to Unicef, many of these families have fled their homes multiple times, seeking safety from the advancing conflict. (AP photo)

With Russia’s attention focused on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, there are questions about how much support it can provide to Bashar al-Assad.

While Russia has hinted at providing limited assistance to defend Assad's regime, the future of Moscow's involvement in Syria remains uncertain. (Reuters photo)