Jihadist surge in Syria: Iran's waning influence reshapes conflict
Jihadists in northern Syria have seized more than 40 locations as a consequence of Iran's weakening influence, according to CNN. The assault took Syrian forces by surprise, who have been controlling Aleppo since 2016.
29 November 2024 17:24
In recent days, jihadists initiated an offensive in northwestern Syria, overtaking over 40 locations, including a Syrian army base. CNN, as cited by the Polish Press Agency, suggests this is due to Iran's weakening influence in the region.
On Thursday, fighters advanced towards Aleppo, the second-largest city in Syria, which has been under the control of Bashar al-Assad's forces since 2016. The coalition of militants is led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an organisation originating from al-Qaeda, now operating independently.
For years, jihadists did not pose a significant military threat in Syria, controlling only the city of Idlib. However, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), the recent offensive has resulted in the deaths of over 240 people on both sides of the conflict.
Ceasefire violated
A ceasefire had been in effect in northern Syria since 2020, negotiated by Turkey, Iran, and Russia. The sudden attack by jihadists disrupted this arrangement, bringing chaos to the region. Nanar Hawach, an analyst with the International Crisis Group, indicates that the offensive is a result of Hezbollah's weakening, which had to withdraw its forces to Lebanon due to the conflict with Israel.
According to CNN, the fundamentalists' attack was in response to the shelling of Idlib by al-Assad's army, leading to the deaths of over 30 civilians. Jihadists are now approximately 1.6 kilometres from Aleppo, and their actions have led to the capture of 50 locations.
Civil War in Syria
The civil war in Syria has been ongoing since March 2011. The conflict was sparked by opposition to authoritarian rule and growing social inequalities. Peaceful protests against Bashar al-Assad quickly escalated into a violent conflict between government forces and the rebels opposing them.
So far, it has claimed over 1.5 million victims. The regime in Damascus, with support from Russia and Iran, has regained control over most of the country. However, the humanitarian situation remains dire—50% of people living in extreme poverty are in three provinces in the northwest: Aleppo, Hama, and Deir ez-Zor. "Since 2011, 7.2 million Syrians have become internally displaced, and 6 million have fled abroad," notes "Le Monde."