syria in turmoil: jihadists seize 50 locations amid chaos

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 played a key role in the region.

On Thursday, fighters approached Aleppo, the second-largest city in Syria. 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 originating from al-Qaeda, now operating as an independent formation.

For years, jihadists did not constitute a significant military force in Syria, controlling only the city of Idlib. However, the launched offensive, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), has resulted in the death of over 240 people on both sides of the conflict.

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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 a result of Hezbollah's weakening, which had to withdraw its forces to Lebanon due to 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 death of over 30 civilians. Jihadists are now just one mile from Aleppo, and their actions have led to the capture of 50 locations.

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The civil war in Syria has been ongoing since March 2011. The conflict was sparked by opposition to authoritarian rule and growing social inequalities. Peaceful protests against Bashar al-Assad quickly escalated into a fight between government forces and 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—50% of people living in extreme poverty reside 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."

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