BEIRUT — The ongoing civil war in Syria is once again capturing global attention as insurgent forces have made significant gains in Aleppo, the nation’s largest city, as well as surrounding towns and villages.
This unexpected advancement by rebel factions comes at a time when several pivotal players in the conflict are either distracted or diminished, resulting in the fiercest fighting since a ceasefire was established in 2020, which had previously brought a semblance of stability to northern Syria.
To counter the insurgent offensive, Syrian and Russian military forces have conducted numerous airstrikes, causing considerable casualties among the rebels.
The Syrian civil strife began in 2011 in response to protests against the rule of President Bashar Assad. Currently, five foreign nations maintain a military presence in the region, including the United States, Russia, and Iran. Anti-Assad factions, alongside U.S.-supported fighters, control over a third of the country’s territory, while Israel continues to hold the Golan Heights, a region taken during the 1967 conflict with its Arab neighbors.
Here’s an overview of the primary stakeholders involved in the conflict:
Pro-government forces, supported by Russia and Iran, have maintained control over large swaths of the country due to assistance from these allied nations.
Assad’s military holds most of the critical urban centers, including the capital, Damascus, and key cities across central, southern, and eastern Syria.
The capture of Aleppo by the Syrian government in late 2016 marked a pivotal moment in the war, and the recent loss of this city signifies a significant blow to their efforts.
Iranian military advisors and proxy fighters have been essential in bolstering Assad’s forces throughout the conflict, although Lebanon’s Hezbollah group has entered a weakened state following its recent skirmishes with Israel. Furthermore, Iran’s diverting focus due to these regional conflicts has impacted the government’s operations. Recently, Iranian-backed militias from Iraq have crossed into Syria to support the government’s counteroffensive efforts.
On the other hand, Russian military involvement has centered around its naval base on the Mediterranean coast and the Hemeimeem airbase in Latakia province, which is home to numerous Russian troops. However, a considerable portion of Russian resources and attention is currently directed towards its ongoing war in Ukraine.
Insurgent factions, primarily backed by Turkey, are primarily led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), previously the al-Qaida affiliate in Syria and designated a terrorist organization by various bodies, including the United Nations and the United States.
HTS controls a significant part of northwestern Syria and established a “salvation government” in 2017 to administer the area. In recent years, its leadership has sought to reshape the group’s image, severing connections with al-Qaida, removing hardline officials, and promoting ideals of pluralism and religious tolerance.
Other rebel groups, such as Noureddine el-Zinki, once U.S.-backed, have also aligned themselves with the HTS-led alliance.
The Turkish-backed Syrian National Army coalition has engaged in military actions against areas like Tel Rifaat, which is under U.S.-backed Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces’ control.
Various fighters from groups such as the Turkistan Islamic Party, along with Chechen combatants from the former Soviet Union, have reportedly been involved in confrontations in northwestern Syria, according to Syrian opposition sources. Turkey has refrained from disclosing the actual number of its troops stationed in the region.
Meanwhile, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a coalition receiving backing from the U.S., exercises control over vast territories in eastern Syria.
The SDF has taken on the Islamic State militants, successfully capturing the last remaining land held by these extremists in eastern Syria. Approximately 900 U.S. troops are currently positioned in eastern Syria to prevent a resurgence of the terrorist group.
SDF forces still maintain control over several Aleppo neighborhoods that remain surrounded by insurgent groups. Opposition activists have indicated that insurgents may permit these fighters to evacuate to northeastern Syria, although the intentions of the Kurdish-led forces regarding such movements remain uncertain.
The Turkish government views the main Kurdish faction of the SDF as being affiliated with the PKK, an organization it and its allies classify as a terrorist group.