The recent seize of two major Syrian cities by Islamist rebels — Aleppo and Hama — finds its origins in the pages of history marred by bloodshed, rebellion and civil wars.
Syria’s nearly 14-year-long civil war has left over half-a-million dead since 2011 and millions misplaced.
Syrian rebels on Thursday stormed the city of Hama as government forces withdrew, bringing them closer to Damascus, the stronghold of President Bashar Assad.
The rapid advance on Hama, one of Syria’s largest cities, and the retreat of government troops were confirmed by both sides.
The story so far
Protests erupted in Syria in March 2011, fueled by the Arab Spring uprisings, against four decades of repressive rule by the Assad family. In response, President Bashar al-Assad launched a violent crackdown on the demonstrators.
This sparked an armed rebellion, backed by Turkey, the West, and some Arab nations. The Free Syrian Army (FSA) rebels captured significant territories, including the central city of Homs and parts of Aleppo, Syria’s second-largest city.
Hauntings of Hama
Known for its iconic waterwheels along the Orontes River, Hama, in the early 1980s, became synonymous with mass killings. The city was the site of anti-government attacks led by the Muslim Brotherhood, targeting military officers, state institutions, and ruling party offices.
Over four decades ago, Syrian President Hafez Assad initiated the infamous Hama Massacre, which resulted in the deaths or disappearances of between 10,000 and 40,000 people. The government assault on the central city began on February 2, 1982, and lasted nearly a month, leaving Hama devastated, AP reported.
Rifaat Assad, Hafez’s brother, led the artillery unit responsible for shelling Hama, resulting in thousands of deaths and earning him the infamous title of the “Butcher of Hama.”
In 2023, Rifaat was indicted in Switzerland for war crimes and crimes against humanity related to the massacre, with an international arrest warrant issued three years prior.
The massacre left deep resentment, fueling further uprisings against Hafez Assad’s son, Bashar, years later.
The entry and exit of IS
In June 2014, the jihadist group Islamic State (IS) declared a “caliphate” across parts of Syria and Iraq. In response, a US-led coalition launched airstrikes against IS in September 2014.
The jihadists were ultimately driven from their final stronghold in Syria by US-backed Kurdish-led fighters in 2019.
The allies and the adversaries
Iran, Hezbollah: Iran-backed Hezbollah has extended support for the Syrian government.
Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem declared on Thursday that his group would support Damascus as Islamist-led rebels launched a major offensive. In a televised address, Qassem condemned the “terrorist groups” aiming to “destroy Syria again… to bring down the regime” and “create chaos.”
In 2011, the Lebanese Shiite militant group deployed fighters to support the Syrian government, with Iran also providing assistance to President Assad.
Israel: During the war in Lebanon between September 2024 and the November ceasefire, Israel conducted repeated airstrikes in Syria, citing concerns over Hezbollah’s attempts to transfer arms to Lebanon.
Russia: It is another of its main allies. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Thursday said that Russia was closely monitoring the situation in Syria and maintaining regular contact with Syrian authorities.
He added that the level of Russian assistance to Damascus will be determined based on this ongoing assessment.
In September 2015, Russia began a campaign of airstrikes on rebel-held areas, marking a pivotal shift in the war. This intervention played a crucial role in helping Assad’s forces reclaim key rebel strongholds, including Aleppo in 2016 and the eastern outskirts of Damascus in 2018.