After capturing four big cities of Syria, the rebels have now captured the capital Damascus as well. Violence continues in many places in Syria. The army has announced that the country is now free from Assad’s rule. Meanwhile, news of President Assad leaving the capital Damascus is coming. According to the army officer, President Assad has left Damascus and gone to some unknown place.
There is an atmosphere of chaos in Damascus and in the morning a large number of people have gathered on the streets to collect essential goods. Even the goods have been exhausted in many shops. Syria has been witnessing a civil war for more than a decade, but such a situation has not happened in Damascus till date. Not only the rebel groups and the government but also many countries and organizations are responsible for the situation that has prevailed in Syria for the last decade.
So let’s take a look at who were the main characters of the long-running civil war in Syria-
Syrian government
The Syrian government, led by President Bashar al-Assad, has been at the center of a long and devastating civil war that began in 2011. After years of war, the Assad government recaptured most of the territory it lost from rebel groups with the help of Iran, Russia and Lebanon’s Hezbollah.
Also read: ‘Syria has been liberated from Assad’, army commanders announced, slogans of freedom raised at intersections amid violence in Damascus
Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTAS) was formed at the beginning of the Syrian civil war when jihadists formed the Al Nusra Front to fight pro-Assad forces, with hundreds of insurgents and suicide attacks. Its initial relations were with Islamic State (IS) and then Al Qaeda. By mid-2016, the organization was fully operational. The Nusra Front, along with other groups, founded Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.
America
The Obama administration initially supported opposition groups involved in the rebellion against the government, providing them with arms and training, with limited impact. After the arrival of the Islamic State in 2014, the US military fought the terrorist group with air strikes and assistance from Kurdish forces. President Donald Trump withdrew many of those forces in 2019, but the US still has 900 troops in Syria. The thing to note is that the Assad government has been against the Kurds.
Türkiye
The Turkish military has carried out several military operations deep inside the Syrian border, most of which have been against Syrian Kurdish-led forces. Türkiye still effectively controls Syria’s northern border.
Also read: Syria: Rebels’ cannons are roaring in Damascus, bloody war is going on for occupation, President Assad fled by special plane.
Russia
During the Syrian civil war, Russia has been one of Assad’s most loyal foreign supporters. Putin sent Russian troops there to support Assad. Apart from this, to help the army, Russia also provided jet planes to bomb the enemies. Russian soldiers are still present in Syria and it also has air and naval bases in Syria.
Iran and Hezbollah
Syria is a key part of Iran’s “axis of resistance”, a network of countries and groups that includes Hezbollah, Hamas and Yemen’s Houthis. These organizations want to destroy Israel and reduce American influence in the region.
Israel
Israeli military activities in Syria have focused primarily on airstrikes against Hezbollah and Iranian targets, particularly senior military personnel, weapons production facilities, and transport corridors, which Iran uses to ship weapons to Hezbollah.
Kurdish forces
Kurdish forces have been America’s main local partner in the fight against Islamic State in Syria. Kurdish fighters are still battling their old enemy Turkey, whom Türkiye considers linked to the Kurdish separatist insurgency.
Also read: Coup attempt in Syria! Rebels captured many cities… Will President al-Assad save power?
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