Context:

Rebel forces have taken over the Syrian capital of Damascus, marking the end of the Assad-regime. 

Brief History of the Syrian Civil War

It started in 2011 following the Arab Spring Revolution which saw regimes in the Arab world being toppled. 

But, later on, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, whose family had run Syria since a 1970 coup, regained control with the help of Iran, Russia, and Lebanon’s Hezbollah militia.

• Assad is an Alawite, a minority sect that is an offshoot of Shiite Islam. Syria however has a Sunni majority. 

The regime had used chemical weapons, barrel bombs and starvation to force Syrians into submission. 

More than 500,000 Syrians have died and over 6 million have become refugees since 2011.

The civil war Involved domestic opposition groups, extremist factions and international powers including the US, Iran and Russia.

From early December 2024, rebel forces captured Aleppo, Daraa, Quneitra, Suwayda, Homs, and Damascus – the capital city. 

Assad’s forces have been considerably weakened with its key backers, Russia and Iran, stretched in other conflicts. 

The rebel fighters took control of the Saydnaya prison and released the political prisoners.

Assad has fled and taken political asylum in Moscow.

The Syrian Prime Minister has said that the government is ready to cooperate with the opposition and hand over the administration.

Prominent Rebel Forces

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)

• The name means ‘Organization for the Liberation of the Levant’.
• Originated from the Nusra Front, formed by anti-Assad jihadis. 
• In 2016, ended ties to al-Qaida and became the HTS. 
• The US and other Western countries still consider it a terrorist group.

Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)

• A US partner made up of Kurdish fighters.
• Fought against the ISIS in Syria. 
• They control an autonomous region in the northeast. 

Syrian National Army (SNA)

• Formed under the ‘Syrian Interim Government’, a coalition of opposition groups.
• Loose coalition of militias backed by Turkey.

Key Places in News

Umayyad Mosque/ Great Mosque of Damascus: 

• The HTS leader delivered his victory message here. 
• 1,300 years old - one of the world’s most ancient mosques.
• Destroyed by Timur in 1401, rebuilt by the Arabs

Aleppo

• One of the oldest cities in the world, located in Syria’s north, between the Mediterranean Sea and Mesopotamia (Iraq).
• A node on the ancient Silk Road.
• The Citadel of Aleppo is the most prominent historic architectural site in Aleppo. It was recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO

Damascus

• Founded in the 3rd millennium B.C
• Considered to be among the oldest continually inhabited cities in the world.
• Capital of the Umayyad caliphate. 

Homs

• Located in central Syria, near the Orontes River. 
• The site of ancient Emesa which has a temple to the sun god El Gebal. 
• A main centre for the Syrian uprising (2011-12).