Amid ongoing unrest in the Middle East, the war in Syria has once again come to the fore. After Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, the status quo changed across the region. Meanwhile, recent rebel attacks in Syria have added to those tensions. Jeremy Bowen, the international editor of the British media BBC, has highlighted the situation of the rebel attack and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in a report.
The role of the Assad regime and its allies
In the civil war that broke out in Syria after the 2011 Arab Spring, President Bashar al-Assad was prepared to hold onto his power at any cost. To maintain his rule, he took the help of Russia, Iran and Hezbollah of Lebanon. These allies have helped him fight the Islamic State (IS) militant group and militias backed by wealthy Gulf states including the United States.
Currently, Iran and its ally Hezbollah are vulnerable to constant attacks by Israel. Russia is conducting airstrikes to counter the rebels, but the bulk of its military forces are engaged in the war in Ukraine.
Rebels' new campaign
The rebel-led Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) recently launched an offensive from Idlib, shocking Syrian government forces. They captured the historic citadel of Aleppo in just a few days. The fort was a stronghold of the government forces between 2012 and 2015.
In pictures on social media, the situation in Aleppo appears calm for the time being, but the success of the rebels is huge. They have seized a significant amount of weapons and equipment from government forces and are advancing towards Damascus.
Transformation and criticism of HTS
HTS was once linked to al-Qaeda. However, they broke up in 2016. Currently they are trying to win the support of ordinary Syrians by moving away from their 'jihadi' identity. Their latest operation, dubbed 'Operation Repelling the Aggression', is being conducted without reference to jihadist language or religious extremism.
international concerns
This new war situation in Syria has caused concern in international circles. UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen called the recent conflict dangerous for civilians and a threat to regional and international security.
Pedersen emphasized finding a political solution in Syria in accordance with Resolution 2254 adopted by the UN Security Council in 2015. But no effective initiative has been seen so far.
Assad's future
While the rebels' recent successes have been impressive, the Assad regime cannot be ruled out just yet. A certain class of support for his government still exists. Many Syrians view Assad's regime as a good evil compared to rebel militant groups.
But the rise of other rebel groups could again threaten the Assad regime. The situation in Syria has turned into a renewed conflict, posing an even greater challenge to regional peace.
