Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is facing one of the most significant challenges to his rule in recent years as rebel forces, led by the al-Qaeda breakaway group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, have launched a surprise offensive on Aleppo and are now targeting the Syrian capital, Damascus. The fighting, which has already claimed the lives of over 300 insurgents, marks a dramatic escalation in the Syrian civil war.
The situation unfolded quickly after Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a group with strong ties to al-Qaeda, captured Aleppo over the weekend. The insurgents, having made significant advances in the region, have set their sights on the strategic city of Hama. Reports suggest that the rebels have even acquired a military helicopter from the retreating Syrian Army, further intensifying their capabilities.
This development has prompted President Assad to seek urgent assistance from his two main backers—Russia and Iran. Russian airstrikes are being carried out against rebel positions, but with President Vladimir Putin’s ongoing military operations in Ukraine, Russia’s resources are stretched thin. Meanwhile, Iran, facing mounting pressure due to its involvement in Hezbollah and Israel’s recent attacks, is sending reinforcements into Syria. Iran-aligned militias, including Katiab Hezbollah and Fatemiyoun groups from Iraq, have reportedly crossed into northern Syria to support the Syrian Army in its battle against the insurgents.
Despite these efforts, experts warn that Assad’s position is precarious. Joshua Landis, director of the Center for Middle East Studies at the University of Oklahoma, emphasized that neither Russia nor Iran are in a strong enough position to decisively intervene in the conflict. The rebels have pushed further than anticipated, and Syrian military forces, seemingly demoralized, have been retreating in the face of the insurgents’ advances.
The situation is further complicated by the involvement of Turkey, which views its fight against Kurdish separatists as a key national security issue. Kurdish-led forces, backed by the U.S., are currently working to evacuate Kurdish civilians from besieged areas like Aleppo, where around 200,000 Syrian Kurds are trapped by pro-Turkey factions. These developments add an additional layer of complexity to an already volatile conflict.
As the rebels continue their push toward Damascus, the international community watches closely, with concerns over the potential for further escalation and the broader impact on the stability of the Middle East.
Sources By Agencies
