HTS-led military operation of the Syrian civil war
Idlib ceasefire (March 2020 – Nov. 2024)
Foreign intervention on behalf of Syrian Arab Republic
Foreign intervention in behalf of Syrian rebels
U.S.-led intervention against ISIL
On 27 November 2024, a coalition of Syrian revolutionary factions called the Military Operations Command [ 43] led by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and supported by allied Turkish -backed groups[ 44] [ 45] [ 46] in the Syrian National Army (SNA) launched an offensive against the pro-government Syrian Arab Army (SAA) forces in Idlib , Aleppo and Hama Governorates in Syria . The operation was codenamed Deterrence of Aggression [ note 2] by HTS.[ 47] This is the first time that opposition forces in the Syrian civil war launched a military offensive campaign since the March 2020 Idlib ceasefire .[ 48] [ 49]
On 29 November 2024, HTS and later the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) entered Aleppo and captured most of the city , amid the collapse of pro-government forces. The next day, opposition forces made rapid advances, capturing dozens of towns and villages as pro-government forces disintegrated, and advanced toward Hama in central Syria, subsequently capturing it on 5 December.[ 50] [ 51] By 6 December, the SDF captured Deir ez-Zor in an offensive east of the Euphrates , while the newly formed Southern Operations Room and Al-Jabal Brigade captured Daraa and Suwayda in an offensive in the south. The HTS advanced further south toward Homs .[ 52] [ 53] The US-backed Syrian Free Army (SFA) took control of Palmyra in the southeast of the country.[ 54]
On 7 December 2024, Southern Operations Room forces entered the Rif Dimashq Governorate from the south, and came within 10 kilometers of the capital Damascus .[ 55] [ 56] Later, opposition forces were reported to have entered the suburbs of the capital.[ 57] SFA forces moved towards the capital from the south east.[ 58] [better source needed ] By 8 December, they had captured Homs , which effectively cut Assad's forces from Syria's coast.[ 59] That same day, rebels also captured the capital Damascus , toppling Bashar al-Assad 's government and ending the Assad family's 53-year long rule over the country.[ 60]
^ Burke, Jason (9 December 2024). "Who are the main actors in the fall of the regime in Syria?" . the Guardian . Retrieved 20 December 2024 .
^ a b "IRGC commander killed by rebels in Aleppo amid clashes" . Rudaw . 28 November 2024.
^ Christou, William (16 December 2024). "Inside the Russian airbase in Syria where troops form fragile truce with rebels they once bombed" . the Guardian . Retrieved 20 December 2024 .
^ Cite error: The named reference terr
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^ "Coinciding with the Authority's attack on the regime forces' positions in the Aleppo countryside... a squadron of Russian aircraft flies in the "Putin-Erdogan" airspace" (in Arabic). Syrian Observatory for Human Rights . 27 November 2024. Retrieved 27 November 2024 .
^ George, Susannah (4 December 2024). "Iran is sending regional fighters to Syria. Can they save Assad again?" . The Washington Post . Retrieved 5 December 2024 .
^ Cite error: The named reference collapse4
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^ "Head of US-backed Syrian Kurdish force says ISIS has taken areas in east Syria" . Al Arabiya English . 6 December 2024. Retrieved 7 December 2024 .
^ Burke, Jason (9 December 2024). "Who are the main actors in the fall of the regime in Syria?" . The Guardian . ISSN 0261-3077 . Retrieved 10 December 2024 .
^ "Ejército de Siria inicia contraofensiva contra terroristas - Noticias Prensa Latina" . 29 November 2024.
^ "IRGC commander killed by rebels in Aleppo amid clashes" . Rudaw Media Network . 28 November 2024.
^ a b Cite error: The named reference lister
was invoked but never defined (see the help page ).
^ a b c d "What is behind the new rebel offensive in northwest Syria?" . The New Arab .
^ a b c d "In parallel with the continuation of the "Deterrence of Aggression" operation: More than 30 airstrikes and the killing of about 100 members of the regime forces, the Authority and the factions in the Aleppo countryside" (in Arabic). Syrian Observatory for Human Rights . 27 November 2024. Retrieved 27 November 2024 .
^ https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/11/29/syria-hts-assad-aleppo-fighting/49bf868a-aea0-11ef-b98c-b3bed6509e98_story.html
^ "الغنائم تشعل خلافات المعارضة السورية قبل انتهاء المعارك" .
^ "Syrian opposition forces launch new offensive in Manbij, northern Syria" . Türkiye Today . 6 December 2024. Retrieved 7 December 2024 .
^ a b c Abdel Halim Suleiman (4 December 2024). "الغنائم تشعل خلافات المعارضة السورية قبل انتهاء المعارك" . The Independent (in Arabic). Retrieved 26 December 2024 .
^ "Syrian opposition sends messages to SDF and regime" . Enab Baladi . 1 December 2024. Retrieved 3 December 2024 .
^ "Halep'e giren Sultan Murad Tümeni'nden Haydar Komutan: "Ya Esed'i düşürürüz ya da Türkiye'ye bağlanırız" " . Samimi Haber (in Turkish). 2 December 2024. Retrieved 2 December 2024 .
^ a b "TRAC Incident Report: Ajnad Kavkaz and Jaish al-Muhajireen wa al-Ansar/ HTS Claim Responsibility for Attack Near Aleppo, Syria - 28 November 2024" . TRAC . Retrieved 1 December 2024 .
^ "Amid Russian airstrikes: "Turkistan Islamic Party" attack regime positions in Latakia countryside" . Syrian Observatory for Human Rights . 6 December 2024. Retrieved 6 December 2024 .
^ "Russian elite forces suffer losses in Syrian rebel attack" . defence-blog.com . 27 November 2024. Retrieved 28 November 2024 .
^ "Moscow claims 'external forces' seeking to escalate violence in Syria" . The Guardian . 4 December 2024. ISSN 0261-3077 . OCLC 60623878 . Retrieved 8 December 2024 .
^ a b c d "YPJ: We will hold the Turkish state and its mercenaries accountable on the frontlines of resistance" . Firat News Agency . 2 December 2024. Retrieved 2 December 2024 .
^ "Al-Bab Military Council repels Turkish infiltration attempts" . Hawar News Agency . 28 November 2024. Retrieved 2 December 2024 .
^ "Turkish occupation, its backed mercenaries shell villages of Manbij" . Hawar News Agency . 2 December 2024. Retrieved 2 December 2024 .
^ "Number of Turkish mercenaries killed during clashes south of Manbij, Deir Hafer" . Hawar News Agency . 4 December 2024. Retrieved 4 December 2024 .
^ "Ods Home Page" (PDF) .
^ "Syria Transition Challenges Project" . Geneva Centre for Security Policy .
^ The Military Balance 2023 page 354
^ IISS, The Military Balance 2023 page 354
^ "Why Arabs are increasingly joining the SDF in Syria's northeast" . en.majalla.com . Retrieved 24 July 2023 .
^ "The death toll continues to rise day after day, in light of the continued violent escalation of clashes and air and ground bombardment, a week after the launch of the "Deterrence of Aggression" operation, launched by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham and its allied factions against the regime forces, where the death toll of soldiers and civilians in the operation reached 571, and the operation was launched at dawn on the 27th of last November" . Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. p. Arabic. Retrieved 3 December 2024 .
^ a b c d e Cite error: The named reference dec524
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^ Chehayeb, Kareem. "Syria launches counterattacks in an attempt to halt insurgency, as Iran's top diplomat meets Assad" . Associated Press . Retrieved 1 December 2024 .
^ "Operation "Deterrence of Aggression" on its second day: 231 people killed and martyred, including 20 civilians" (in Arabic). Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. 30 November 2024. Retrieved 30 November 2024 .
^ "Amid Turkish bombardment | Clashes escalate between Kurdish forces and "National Army" factions in northern Aleppo countryside - The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights" . 1 December 2024.
^ "Iran's Revolutionary Guards announce the killing of 15 of its advisors in recent clashes in Syria" (in Arabic). Veto. 19 December 2024. Retrieved 19 December 2024 .
^ "3 SDF fighters martyred in response to attacks by Turkish occupation mercenaries" . Hawar News Agency . 1 December 2024. Retrieved 3 December 2024 .
^ "11 ISIS mercenaries arrested in Deir ez-Zor" . Hawar News Agency . 8 December 2024. Retrieved 8 December 2024 .
^ Roth, Richard (6 December 2024). "Syrian rebels challenge Assad regime on two fronts as new uprising emerges in south: Live updates" . CNN . Retrieved 6 December 2024 .
^ Kourdi, Eyad; Salem, Mostafa; Edwards, Christian; Goodwin, Allegra; Edwards, Christian; Abekah-Mensah, Annoa; Kent, Lauren; Schmitz, Avery (29 November 2024). "Syrian rebels enter Aleppo for first time in eight years during shock offensive" . CNN . Retrieved 29 November 2024 .
^ "Syrian troops withdraw from Aleppo as rebels advance" . BBC News . The latest offensive has been led by an Islamist militant group known at Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and allied factions backed by Turkey.
^ "Syrian rebels sweep into Aleppo, Russia conducts strikes in support of Assad" . Reuters . With Assad backed by Russia and Iran, and Turkey supporting some of the rebels in the northwest where it maintains troops, the offensive has brought into focus the conflict's knotted geopolitics.
^ "Aleppo: Rebels 'take control' of airport as thousands of fighters seize most of Syria's second-biggest city" . Sky . The insurgents, led by the Islamist militant group Hayat Tahrir al Sham and including Turkey-backed fighters, also claim to be in control of all of Idlib province after launching their offensive on Wednesday.
^ Kourdi, Eyad; Edwards, Christian (27 November 2024). "Syrian rebels launch major attack on regime forces in Aleppo province" . AOL.com . Retrieved 3 December 2024 .
^ "Syrian rebels launch surprise offensive in northwest as regime retaliates with airstrikes" . The New Arab . 27 November 2024.
^ Kourdi, Eyad; Edwards, Christian (27 November 2024). "Syrian rebels launch major attack on regime forces in Aleppo province" . CNN . Retrieved 27 November 2024 .
^ " "The Authority" controls Aleppo International Airport and many cities and towns in the northern Hama countryside amid a complete collapse of the regime forces" (in Arabic). Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. 30 November 2024. Retrieved 30 November 2024 .
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^ "US-backed Syrian Free Army advances in Homs, with reports of clashes with regime forces in Palmyra" . Anadolu Agency . 6 December 2024.
^ Cite error: The named reference damas1
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^ Cite error: The named reference damas2
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^ "Rebel forces 'reach Damascus suburbs' as protesters topple statue on outskirts" . Sky News . 7 December 2024.
^ "US-backed anti-regime groups began expanding to north and towards Damascus from southern Syria" . Anadolu Agency . 7 December 2024.
^ Al-Khalidi, Suleimi; Azhari, Timour (7 December 2024). "Syria rebels celebrate in captured Homs, set sights on Damascus" . Reuters. Retrieved 7 December 2024 .
^ "Syrian rebels topple President Assad, prime minister calls for free elections" . Reuters. 8 December 2024. Retrieved 8 December 2024 .
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