Sudden power shift in Syria: Rebels take control of key northern city
Syrian opposition forces captured Aleppo in a swift three-day operation marking a major change in the long-running conflict. Russian forces showed limited response while Iran-backed groups were notably absent
In a swift and un-expected turn of events Syrian rebels took control of Aleppo (the countrys second-largest city) during a three-day operation that changed the balance of power in the regions 13-year conflict.
The rebel groups managed to capture both Aleppo and Tal Rifaat showing how much the situation has shifted since their 2016 defeat. Back then Bashar al-Assadʼs forces — with strong Russian help — pushed rebels out of the city but this time things were different: Russian air-power stayed mostly quiet during the initial push
The reasons behind Moscows limited response are complex; experts say its connected to:
- Russias focus on the Ukraine conflict
- Growing ties with Turkey
- Pressure on Assad to negotiate with Ankara
Assad and his partners do not seem ready to solve certain problems
The success of the operation was helped by the absence of Iran-backed forces (who left Syria due to the Israel-Lebanon situation that started in fall-2024). Its worth noting that Hayat Tahrir al-Sham — the main rebel group — didnt face the usual resistance from Iranian Revolutionary Guard or Hezbollah fighters who were busy elsewhere
The US-backed Kurdish forces lost their stronghold in Tal Rifaat which creates new problems for American interests in the region. With the upcoming change in US leadership theres more un-certainty about how Washington will handle this fast-moving situation
The rebels are now pushing towards Hama while other opposition groups across Syria — including those who made peace with Assad years ago — are starting to challenge government control. This means the frozen conflict has suddenly become very active again
