The Syrian civil war, which began in 2011 amidst anti-government protests inspired by the Arab Spring, took a dramatic turn after rebels overthrew Bashar Al Assad’s regime and invaded Damascus on Sunday. Last week, Islamist militants carried out a surprise attack on Assad’s forces, capturing significant territory. Although, the regime recaptured most of its lost territories in 2016, pushing the Syrian civil war into a frozen phase, there was relative calm but not true peace. However, the resumption of the latest conflict has broken the fragile stability.
The developments surprised everyone, including Assad’s allies and enemies, when Hayat Tahrir Al Sham (HTS) declared the country free. What exactly is happening in Syria? Here’s a 10-point explainer.
The Syrian Crisis Explained
1. The Syrian civil war was a result of the Arab Spring, which witnessed several regimes across the Arab world being toppled.
2. Bashar Al Assad seemed fragile at first, but the situation changed when Russia and Iran intervened to help him fend off the rebels.
3. Since then, the country has been engulfed in a prolonged civil war. However, it has witnessed a period of relative calm in recent years, with the Syrian army and its allies successfully keeping the rebels at bay.
4. The latest civil war erupted last week when HTS and Free Syrian Army rebels launched an offensive, seizing control of the city of Aleppo in their first significant advance in years.
5. On Sunday, the rebels advanced toward Damascus, seizing control of four cities: Daraa, Quneitra, Suwayda, and Homs. With Iran and Russia embroiled in other conflicts, the Syrian army simply seemed to dissipate.
6. On Sunday morning, rebel fighters captured Saydnaya prison, freeing political prisoners held by the Bashar Al Assad regime.
7. Storming the city, the fighters then captured it, overthrowing the regime that had been in power for five decades. Before Assad took power 24 years ago, his father, Hafez Al-Assad, governed the country with an equally unyielding grip.
8. Before Assad took power 24 years ago, his father, Hafez Al-Assad, governed the country with an equally unyielding grip.
9. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham is the primary rebel group responsible for the ouster of Bashar al-Assad. Its name translates to ‘Organization for the Liberation of the Levant.’
10. The group emerged at the start of the Syrian civil war, initially forming as the Nusra Front, a jihadist faction aimed at combating pro-Assad forces through suicide attacks and a network of insurgents. Over time, HTS was first associated with the Islamic State and later aligned with Al-Qaeda.
