Syrian rebels surround Damascus, Bashar al-Assad is in the Syrian capital

Syrian rebels have reached the outskirts of Damascus, opposition activists and a commander said on Saturday, as a rapid offensive in which they have captured some of Syria's largest cities continues to expand.

Rami Abdurrahman, who runs the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said rebels were present in the Damascus suburbs of Maadamiyah, Jaramana and Daraya.

He said opposition fighters were also marching from eastern Syria towards the Damascus suburb of Harasta.

Hassan Abdul-Ghani, a rebel commander, posted on Telegram that opposition forces had begun encircling Damascus in the "final phase" of their offensive. He said fighters were moving from southern Syria towards Damascus.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is currently in Damascus and is carrying out his work from the capital, the Syrian state news agency said on Saturday.