Following a brutal month-long assault—and threats from the Syrian government that they would "cleanse" and "mop up" the city—rebels have fled from the opposition hub of Homs. Reuters reports that activists are calling it a "tactical withdrawal," brought on by a new show of force from the regime as well as a heavy snowfall that amplified the shortage of food and supplies for residents under seige. Meanwhile, the United Nations and the Arab League have opted to send in former U.N. secretary-general Kofi Annan to try to reach a peace agreement with Syria.
