Thousands flee as Syrian rebels close in on third major city

Under the ominous shadow of encroaching rebel forces, a mass exodus grips Syria’s third major city, Homs. Civilians, their eyes filled with fear, pack meager belongings and flee before an imminent siege threatens to shatter their already fragile existence. The relentless march of the insurgents sends shockwaves through the city, leaving behind a trail of abandoned homes and desolate streets. As the ominous silence descends, the fate of Homs hangs in the balance, its destiny poised between the horrors of war and the flickering hope of sanctuary.