Syrian government forces have lost control of Daraa city, a major setback for President Bashar al-Assad, as local armed groups now control over 90% of the province, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Known as the “cradle of the revolution,” Daraa was where Syria’s 2011 uprising began.

This loss follows recent rebel victories in Aleppo and Hama, with Islamist-led groups and local factions advancing rapidly, AFP has reported.

The civil war, which has killed over 500,000 people and displaced millions, has seen Assad’s forces lose significant territory in a short time, with rebels now targeting Homs.

Written by B.C. Begley