Aleppo. The Syrian civil war has taken a new turn as rebels have captured Syria’s main city Aleppo. With this, for the first time since 2016, Aleppo is out of government control.
According to media reports, amid the civil war in Syria, the rebel coalition has suddenly attacked and captured the country’s second largest city, Aleppo. It is being told that this is the first time since 2016 that any part of Aleppo has been freed from the control of the government. This has created a new impasse in the long-running conflict. Let us tell you here that during the Arab Spring in 2011, pro-democracy demonstrations started in Syria. Protesters demanded the removal of authoritarian President Bashar al-Assad. Armed conflict arose after these demonstrations were forcefully suppressed. Gradually small rebel groups were formed. Some of these received support from neighboring countries and international powers. The rebels were supported by Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, and the United States, while the Assad government was provided military assistance by Russia and Iran.
The new rebel coalition is led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), formerly known as al-Nusra Front. The group, previously linked to al-Qaeda, has now united various factions of the rebels. The capture of Aleppo is being seen as the strengthening of this coalition and increasing opposition against the government. Aleppo, once Syria’s economic capital, fell under the control of the Assad government in 2016. There was a presence of rebel groups in this city. Now its recapture by the rebel forces is being considered as a big blow to the government. This change has raised new questions about the future of Syria.
Millions of people have died so far in Syria during this civil war. The death toll is said to be more than three lakh, while about 60 lakh people have left the country as refugees. It is noteworthy that after 2014, extremist groups became dominant among the rebels in Syria, due to which organizations like ISIS also emerged. Although their influence has been reduced with international pressure and efforts as well as with the help of Kurdish fighters, the recent capture of Aleppo is like giving birth to new conflicts in Syria. Current developments not only pose a challenge to the authority of the Assad government, but may also create new complications between international and local interests in the region.