Jihadist surge in Syria: Iran's faltering influence revealed
Jihadists in northern Syria have seized more than 40 locations as a result of Iran's weakening, CNN reports. The attack caught Syrian forces by surprise, which have been controlling Aleppo since 2016.
In recent days, jihadists launched an offensive in northwestern Syria, capturing over 40 locations, including a Syrian army military base. According to CNN, as cited by the Polish Press Agency, this is a result of Iran's weakening, which had played a key role in the region.
On Thursday, fighters approached Aleppo, Syria's second-largest city. The city 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 organization that originated from al-Qaeda and now functions as an independent group.
For years, jihadists did not represent a significant military force in Syria, controlling only the city of Idlib. However, the offensive launched, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), 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, points out that the offensive is due to Hezbollah's weakening, as they had to withdraw their forces to Lebanon because of the conflict with Israel.
According to CNN, the fundamentalists' attack was a response to the shelling of Idlib by al-Assad's army, which resulted in 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 ignited by opposition to authoritarian rule and growing social inequalities. Peaceful protests against Bashar al-Assad quickly intensified into a battle 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—with 50% of people living in extreme poverty 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," reminds "Le Monde."
