Who are the rebels in Syria?
The offensive, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), began in late November with the capture of Aleppo
Rebel forces have entered the Syrian capital, Damascus, amid reports that President Bashar al-Assad has fled the country.
This development follows a swift offensive led by Islamist fighters that has raised questions about the regime's future.
The offensive, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), began in late November with the capture of Aleppo. The group then moved south through Hama and Homs, traditionally strongholds of government control.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
In southern Syria, rebels secured much of the Deraa region, the birthplace of the 2011 uprising against Assad's rule. Many Syrian military units reportedly abandoned their posts or defected.
Who Are Hayat Tahrir al-Sham?
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), once known as Jabhat al-Nusra, was established in 2011 as an affiliate of Al-Qaeda, with involvement from Islamic State (IS) leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
Over the years, the group evolved, breaking ties with Al-Qaeda in 2016 under the leadership of Abu Mohammed al-Jawlani and rebranding as HTS after merging with similar groups in 2017.
Now the dominant force in Idlib, HTS administers the region as a de facto government, although alleged human rights abuses have marred its reputation.
Previously focused on establishing fundamentalist Islamic rule in Syria, HTS had shown little interest in reigniting large-scale conflict—until its recent offensive.
The backdrop to the Syrian Conflict
Syria's war began in March 2011 with pro-democracy protests in Deraa.
Inspired by regional uprisings, demonstrators demanded an end to Assad's repressive rule. The government's violent crackdown turned protests into a full-scale civil war, drawing in regional and global powers. Rebel factions, jihadist groups like IS and Al-Qaeda, and foreign interests turned Syria into a battleground.
More than half a million people have been killed and 12 million have been forced to flee their homes, about five million of whom are refugees or asylum seekers abroad.
Assad's forces relied heavily on Russian airpower and Iranian-backed militias, including Hezbollah, to regain territory.
For years, Assad's regime held key urban centers, while regions like Idlib remained contested. A 2020 ceasefire brokered by Russia and Turkey maintained a fragile peace in Idlib, home to four million displaced people.
However, recent setbacks for Assad's allies, particularly Hezbollah, have exposed vulnerabilities. Israeli airstrikes on Iranian-linked groups and supply lines have weakened Tehran's militias in Syria, leaving Assad's forces stretched thin. This shift emboldened HTS to launch its surprise attack, starting with Aleppo.
HTS's offensive has reignited the Syrian conflict, raising fears of renewed instability. While the group claims to focus on establishing fundamentalist Islamic rule within Syria, its sudden resurgence challenges Assad's grip on power.
The coming weeks will determine whether this offensive marks the beginning of a new chapter in Syria's decade-long war or a temporary escalation in a protracted conflict.
