Syrian rebels edge closer to Damascus as US officials say Assad regime could fall in days

Syria’s rebel alliance is edging closer to the capital Damascus, after anti-regime forces swept across the country in a lightning offensive. Follow the latest live news updates here.

• Syria’s rebel alliance is edging closer to Damascus, saying its fighters are “at the gates” of the capital, after anti-regime forces swept across the country in a lightning offensive. The Syrian army denies it is in retreat, accusing the rebels of spreading panic. • Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad has not departed Damascus, Syria’s presidency said. US officials told CNN his regime could fall within days. A Damascus resident says the city is in “a state of tension and panic.” • In the south, a new uprising emerged along the Daraa province, with rebels there claiming to have seized a major military base as they charge toward the capital. • On the western edge of Syria, rebels are speeding toward the major city of Homs — where residents are fleeing ahead of potential hostilities between anti-regime and government forces. Syria’s armed opposition forces have vowed to protect United Nations offices and international organizations in the country, saying they are “institutions serving the people.” The groups said it is their “responsibility and commitment to protect the interests of our people.”