Syrian opposition fighters on Sunday reportedly entered the capital city of Damascus in a rapid offensive, posing a significant challenge to President Bashar Assad‘s rule. This marks the first time rebels have reached Damascus’ outskirts since 2018.
The Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), Syria’s strongest insurgent group, along with the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army, launched the offensive on November 27th. They quickly captured Aleppo, Syria’s largest city, and Hama, the fourth largest.
HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani stated the offensive aims to overthrow Assad’s government. “The aim of the offensive is to overthrow Assad’s government,” al-Golani said. The HTS, despite its origins in al-Qaida, claims to have severed ties with the organization.
The alliance between HTS and the Syrian National Army is potentially fragile. The Turkish-backed groups want a buffer zone near Turkey’s border, and Turkey, while previously supporting anti-Assad fighters, has recently pushed for reconciliation and denies involvement in the current offensive. The future cooperation of these groups remains uncertain.
Simultaneously, other opposition groups have mobilized. Local forces have taken control in Sweida, home to Syria’s Druze minority, and Daraa, a Sunni Muslim area and a center of the 2011 uprising. The Syrian Democratic Forces, a US-backed Kurdish-led group, control much of eastern Syria. Assad’s government now holds only Damascus, Latakia, and Tartus, three of the 14 provincial capitals.
Insurgent commander Hassan Abdul-Ghani stated on Telegram that opposition forces have begun the ‘final stage’ by surrounding Damascus. Syrian troops also withdrew from Homs, Syria’s third-largest city. Losing Homs would sever the connection between Damascus and the coastal region, Assad’s stronghold.
Assad’s allies, Russia and Iran, are preoccupied with other conflicts, and Hezbollah, weakened by the war with Israel, offers limited support. The UN is pushing for talks regarding a political transition in Syria. US President-elect Donald Trump stated Assad doesn’t deserve US support, saying, “THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT.”
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