The unexpected attack on Aleppo by opposition forces has caught Bashar al-Assad’s regime and its allies off guard.
With the Syrian and Russian air forces intensifying their assaults on opposition forces in northwest Syria, the dormant conflict since the ceasefire deal in 2020 seems to be reigniting.
Is the current fighting part of Syria’s ongoing war?
Yes, it is.
The revolution in 2011 failed to overthrow Bashar al-Assad, leading to the involvement of allies like Russia, Iran, and Hezbollah in suppressing the uprising.
Various armed groups, including ISIL and al-Qaeda, got involved, with new factions like Hayat Tahrir al-Sham emerging.
What are all these groups in Syria?
Many groups formed during the war, eventually being pushed to Idlib after losing ground elsewhere.
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham emerged as the dominant faction in Idlib after merging various groups in 2017.
The extreme violence in Syria led to a significant number of civilian casualties and displacements.
How extreme has the war been?
The war in Syria has been near-apocalyptic, resulting in hundreds of thousands of civilian deaths and massive displacement.
Chemical weapons and barrel bombs were used by the regime and its allies against civilians.
ISIL also gained a foothold during the conflict, inflicting violence in the region.
What started the war?
Lack of freedoms and economic issues led to protests, eventually escalating into armed conflict after harsh crackdowns on demonstrators.
Global warming and severe drought also played a role in sparking the uprising.
The formation of the Free Syrian Army marked a turning point towards armed conflict.
Didn’t lots of countries join the fighting?
Several countries, including Russia, Iran, Turkiye, the US, and Israel, were involved in supporting various factions in Syria.
Interventions from these countries significantly impacted the course of the war.
What was the international reaction to Syria’s war?
Several countries severed ties with al-Assad as his brutal actions against civilians became evident.
The Global Coalition against Daesh was formed to support efforts against ISIL in Syria.
Hadn’t al-Assad been normalising with neighbours recently? Now what?
Despite initial steps towards normalisation with some countries, the recent escalation in violence raises questions about the future of international relations with Syria.
