What to know about sudden rebel gains in Syria’s 13-year war and why it matters
What to know about sudden rebel gains in Syria’s 13-year war and why it matters
The surge in fighting has raised the prospect of another violent front reopening in the Middle East, at a time when U.S.-backed Israel is fighting Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, both Iranian-allied groups.
Summary
Rebels in Syria, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), have launched their first major offensive on Aleppo since 2016, threatening a potential shift in the 13-year civil war.
The attack targets a city historically vital to Syria’s economy, previously reclaimed by President Assad with Russian support.
This resurgence could destabilize the region, involving players like Russia, Turkey, and Iran, while creating openings for ISIS.
HTS, previously linked to al-Qaida, has sought legitimacy but remains controversial. The fighting raises concerns of regional escalation amid other Middle Eastern conflicts.
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Reminder that America, Turkey, and Israel are occupying ~40% of Syria, including the oil fields and are stealing the oil and food from those regions, and occasionally bomb Syrian forces.
While Assad is not blameless, our actions certainly don't improve the stability of Syria.
Edit: That any of these posts are getting downvoted is mindboggling. These rebels are HTS organization, which is what fucking al-Nusra renamed itself to.
These guys beliefs and actions aren't meaningfully different from fucking ISIS.
Bet most Syrians would prefer the US or Kurd occupied areas over the regime/Russian/Iran ones
I'm certain they don't prefer the immiseration and famine that comes with the US and/or proxies literally stealing their harvests and oil.
The Kurds are more complicated; Turkey invades/bombs them whenever possible, sometimes the US takes measures against further Turkish aggression, sometimes they ignore it.
In 2019 the Kurds made a deal with Assad for protection and autonomy within Syria after Trump decreased support. For them, Turkey represents a far greater threat than the Syrian government.
While Russia and Iran occupy the other portion. Don’t leave them out of the party
Russia only occupies the small region of its naval base. Iran does not really occupy any part, although they do seem to have great influence on the government.
You mean the legitimate government of Syria and the militaries they invited to help them fight ISIS, Al Nusra, and other US proxies?
Iran's General Solomeni was viewed across the middle east the way Americans view General Patton for coordinating an effective opposition to ISIS while the US continued to arm them via "Free Syrian Army" factions that either joined or immediately handed their equipment to ISIS and bomb people on both sides.
What makes Assad’s government legitimate?
OK, legitimate is a strong term for any bourgeoisie democracy, but some amount of legitimacy comes from defending its people from HTS and all the other US armed terrorist factions, Israel, Turkey, and the US.
That will change once they're not in danger of being subjected to a worse fate by the US, but for now it's the only organization capable of resisting.
Yup, those are the “legitimate” war criminals
They are certainly more legitimate than the war criminals who are also stealing the oil and food, causing further immiseration and famine.
Very ml of you
Having literally any understanding of geopolitics and history is just tankie shit ig.
simp harder
I immediately assumed the oligarchy (through US or Israel) had injected new life into the rebellion to stir shit up for their new never ending wars.