Assad's 24-year rule was dangling by a thread after rebels announced they gained full control over the key city of Homs.

Syrian rebels said Saturday they have captured the strategically important city of Homs and are now on the doorstep of the capital of Damascus as they pressed a lightning assault on the regime of Bashar al-Assad.

Tens of thousands of people are fleeing Syria's third-largest city Homs as rebels claim to have reached its outskirts, just over a week since they launched their lightning offensive. The rebels seized Hama to the north on Thursday, a second major blow to President Bashar al Assad who lost control of Aleppo last week.