Opposition forces seized the city of Sanamin in Daraa province, southern Syria, on Saturday, bringing them within 20 kilometers of Damascus. This development follows the opposition’s capture of the city of Daraa, resulting in the Syrian army losing control of the area.

Opposition leader Hassan Abdel Ghani told foreign media that the capture of Sanamin is part of a coordinated offensive as opposition forces continue their advance in the region.

Sanamin is a strategically important city on the road linking southern Syria to Damascus and had been under the control of the Syrian regime.