Syrian civil war: Rebels have reportedly entered the capital city of Damascus, prompting security forces and even Hezbollah troops to withdraw from this significant Syrian location. Following the Syrian opposition forces’ entry into Damascus after seizing control of several key cities, President Bashar al-Assad departed for an undisclosed location via aircraft, a development confirmed by military officials to Reuters.
Just the day before, Syrian rebels had captured four cities—Daraa, Quneitra, Suwayda, and Homs—declaring these actions as the “liberation” of these areas. The spokesperson for the rebel group, Lt. Col. Hassan Abdul Ghani, stated early on Sunday their determination to capture the capital, asserting, “Our eyes are on the capital, Damascus.”There were no indications of military deployments within the capital as rebels surrounded the city, compelling President Bashar al-Assad to board a plane and exit.
Who are the opposition fighters?
The most formidable insurgent faction in Syria, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), initiated a surprise offensive against President Assad’s regime on November 27. HTS collaborates with a coalition of Turkish-backed Syrian militias known as the Syrian National Army.
In the past ten days, the rebels have significantly weakened the 24-year-long Assad regime, striving to ‘liberate’ the nation from Assad’s rule. HTS is a splinter group of al-Qaeda and is classified as a terrorist organization by both the United States and the United Nat ions.
However, in recent years, the group has claimed to have severed ties with its parent organization, al-Qaeda, with analysts suggesting that HTS is attempting to rebrand itself by emphasizing the establishment of civilian governance and military operations within its territory, according to an AP report. The offensive, which commenced in Aleppo, is now poised at the threshold of Damascus.
What are they fighting for?
HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani stated earlier this week in an interview with CNN that the objective of his group’s offensive is to ‘overthrow’ the Assad regime. Al-Golani, now distanced from the public eye, has become one of the most prominent insurgents today. He took the initiative to sever connections with al-Qaeda in 2016 and subsequently rebranded his organization.
According to Joshu Landis, a Syria expert and director of the Centre for Middle East Studies at the University of Oklahoma, “Golani has demonstrated greater strategic acumen than Assad. He has restructured his approach, formed new alliances, and launched a charm offensive aimed at minority groups.”
Under Golani’s leadership, his group, now known as Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and previously referred to as the Nusra Front, has emerged as the most formidable rebel faction, presenting a significant challenge to the Assad regime during the uprising that began over a decade ago.
