Syrian Liberation Front–Tahrir al-Sham conflict

TOPSHOT - The leader of Syria's Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group that headed a lightning rebel offensive snatching Damascus from government control, Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, addresses a crowd at the capital's landmark Umayyad Mosque on Dec. 8, 2024.

Rebel forces have swept through Syria and forced former President Bashar Assad out of the country where his family had ruled with an iron fist since the early 1970s.

The leader of Syria's Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group that headed a lightning rebel offensive snatching Damascus from government control, Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, address a crowd at the capital's landmark Umayyad Mosque on Dec.8, 2024.

Ahmad al-Sharaa, better known as Abu Mohammad al-Julani, has become one of the most controversial yet pivotal figures in the Syrian opposition.

In a series of military successes, jihadists from the Islamist group Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and anti-regime rebels managed to seize the city of Aleppo on December 1, following an offensive that began on November 27.

Rebels, spearheaded by jihadists from the Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) organization, entered and captured the strategically significant city of Hama in central Syria today, following intense battles. The regime’s army, loyal to President Bashar al-Assad, admitted losing control of the city.

Syrian rebels, including Islamist-led factions, have launched a major offensive against government forces, advancing towards Hama after capturing significant territory in the northwest, including Aleppo. Their campaign, dubbed "Operation Deter the Aggression," aims to displace the Assad regime and reclaim areas held by government forces.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey had no intention of stopping migrant flows to the European Union warning that "millions" of people would soon head toward Europe.
"After we opened the doors, there were multiple calls saying 'close the doors'," Erdogan said in Ankara Monday according to reports.

Russian warplanes have carried out fresh airstrikes in the de-escalation zone in northwestern Syria, killing at least 12 civilians, a Syrian civil defense group said on Jan. 21.

The victims included nine members of a single-family, six of whom were children, in Kafr Taal in Aleppo province, according to White Helmets.

US President Donald Trump and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed on the need to de-escalate tensions in Idlib, Syria, the White House said on Thursday, a day after eight people were killed in a Syrian missile strike in the province.
"The leaders agreed on the need for de-escalation in Idlib, Syria, in order to protect civilians," the White House said in a statement.