Rebels Key to Bashar Al-Assad's Fall in Syria Civil War

Photo : AFP

Syrians woke up on Monday to a new and uncertain future after rebels took over the capital city, Damascus. This made President Bashar al-Assad leave the country and go to Russia. This marks the end of 13 years of war and more than 50 years of strict government control in Syria. The quick victory of the rebels is a big change for the Middle East as Iran and Russia lose their power in the region.

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The main group leading the rebels is called Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS). HTS is an Islamist group that has connections with al-Qaeda. They have been fighting against Assad’s government for many years and are now the most powerful rebel group. HTS is based in Idlib province, which is in northwestern Syria.

HTS started as a group called Nusra Front and changed its name to HTS in 2016. The leader of HTS is Ahmed al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani. In 2016, he left al-Qaeda and created HTS. Even though the United States and Turkey consider HTS a terrorist group, it is still very powerful and continues fighting Assad’s army.

Another important group is called the Syrian National Army (SNA). Turkey created the SNA by combining smaller rebel groups and supporting them. Turkey sent troops into Syria in 2016 to fight against Kurdish groups and ISIS. The SNA has been fighting against Assad’s forces in the northeast part of Syria.

There is also a group called the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). This group is mainly made up of Kurdish fighters and took control of many areas in northeastern Syria in 2012. With the help of the United States, the SDF fought ISIS and took control of Raqqa, which was the ISIS capital. Today, the SDF controls much of the northeast part of Syria, including important oil fields.

Another important rebel group is the Free Syrian Army (FSA). This group was formed in 2011 by soldiers who left Assad’s army. Over time, the FSA broke into smaller groups but is still an important part of the opposition fighting against Assad.

There are many smaller rebel groups in Syria. These groups change their alliances often and join or split apart during fighting. In Idlib province, located in northwestern Syria, these groups worked together with HTS to fight Assad’s forces. In other parts of Syria, groups fought in the south, but they lost much of their power over time.

After President Assad left the country, Russia gave him and his family safety by offering asylum. This is an important change for the Middle East as the war comes to an end. Many countries are happy about the end of Assad’s rule because it could bring new opportunities to the region. U.S. President Joe Biden said that Syria is now entering a time of risk and uncertainty. Powerful groups like Iran, Russia, and Hezbollah no longer have as much control as they did before.

Japan is also closely watching the events in Syria. The war has caused the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people, destroyed many cities, and left Syria’s economy in very poor condition. Rebuilding the country will require financial support from other countries.

Ahmed al-Sharaa, the leader of HTS, celebrated the success of the rebels. He said that this victory marks the beginning of a new history for the region. While Assad is no longer in power, rebuilding Syria and solving the problems caused by years of war will be very difficult.

Now, the people of Syria face the tough task of building peace and stability after years of violence and suffering. The war may have ended, but the journey to recovery will take time, effort, and help from other nations.