Fighters opposed to President Assad's rule are gaining ground in Syria. Who are these rebels, and what do they want?
In a reversal, President Bashar al-Assad has fled the country as his forces abandon territory with little resistance, marking a pivotal shift in the 13-year civil war.
For the first time since 2018, opposition groups have breached the defenses of Damascus, signaling the growing strength of rebel factions determined to overthrow the Assad regime. The question now looms: Who are these fighters, and what comes next if they succeed in toppling Assad’s government?
The Opposition’s surge
The offensive, which began on November 27, is led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), Syria’s most powerful insurgent group, alongside the Syrian National Army (SNA), an umbrella group of Turkish-backed militias. HTS, which originated as a faction of al-Qaeda, has spent recent years distancing itself from terrorist ties, seeking to position itself as a force for civilian governance as well as military action in opposition-controlled territories.
HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani spoke to CNN, confirming the group's aim: «We are here to overthrow the Assad government,» a clear declaration of intent for the offensive that has already seen the capture of key cities like Aleppo, Syria's largest, and Hama, the fourth largest.
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