MONITORING (SW) – Opposition forces in Syria, led by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), have advanced into government-controlled areas since Wednesday of last week, capturing Aleppo, the country’s second-largest city.
So far, over 300 people have been killed in the clashes. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has vowed to defeat the rebels with the help of Russia and Iran, reported by BBC.
By Sunday, December 1, Russian fighter jets carried out their first airstrikes on rebel positions in Aleppo in eight years.
Sayyid Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s Foreign Minister and another key supporter of Assad’s regime, stated that Iran will continue to support Syria and its military.
Sean Savett, spokesperson for the US National Security Council, issued a statement saying the United States is not involved in the operations of the Syrian opposition but is closely monitoring the situation and in contact with regional countries.
However, international relations experts warn that foreign interventions in Syria could worsen the situation.
Siyal Wardak, an expert on international relations, emphasized that the ongoing conflicts in the region require governments to engage directly with other parties to find peaceful solutions to prevent civilian casualties.
Other analysts note that multiple armed opposition groups are active against the Syrian government, exacerbating the internal crisis in the country.
Mohammad Siyam Halim, another expert on international relations, stated that managing the ongoing crisis is difficult for Assad’s regime and its allies. He added: “Despite the internal opposition within Syria, there are six active rebel groups, especially since 2011 and the ensuing internal crisis. I believe managing this crisis will be challenging for Syria and its allies like Russia and Iran. Russia is preoccupied with Ukraine, and Iran’s resources are stretched thin across multiple fronts.”
Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham is a political and military group that was previously a branch of Al-Qaeda but later declared its break from the terrorist network. Several groups in Syria and the region support Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham.
Currently, the leadership of the rebel forces is held by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, which, in alliance with other groups, has made significant recent gains.
