The areas of operation of armed groups in Syria have changed significantly after the campaign to attack and overthrow the government of President Bashar al-Assad.
Newsweek on December 9 cited data from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW, headquartered in the US) updating the activities of armed groups in territories in Syria. Accordingly, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the group leading the attack on the Syrian government, controlled the area stretching west of Syria, from the city of Aleppo in the north to the capital Damascus.
The Syrian National Army (SNA), a Turkish-backed opposition group, controls parts of northern Syria. The SNA is fighting the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a US-backed Kurdish militia, for control of areas bordering Türkiye in northeastern Syria.
Territories in Syria under the control of armed groups as of December 8, including: HTS (gray); SNA (light yellow above); SDF (purple); the al-Tanf de-confliction zone (blue); unidentified opposition factions (dark yellow below); areas formerly controlled by the Syrian government army (white with a cross)
Much of Syria was previously controlled by the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Now that the regime has collapsed, these areas are now under no clear control. In addition, southern Syria includes the “al-Tanf de-confliction zone” located at the junction of the borders of Syria, Jordan and Iraq, named after a US base established in 2016 after the war in Syria.
Local opposition groups control southern areas, near the Israeli and Jordanian borders. In the latest developments, the Israeli army has taken control of some territories in Syria, crossing the demilitarized zone established in the Golan Heights, southwest of Damascus.
Uncertain future for Syria after opposition topples President al-Assad
Dr. Burcu Ozcelik, a Middle East researcher at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), told Newsweek that HTS will clearly have a prominent role in running a post-Assad Syria. However, HTS leader Abu Mohammad al-Julani will face questions about his legitimacy when it comes to political solutions.
Gunmen from the opposition group are present in the capital Damascus, Syria on December 9.
HTS is currently listed as a terrorist group by many countries such as the US, Russia, and Türkiye. In addition, according to Mr. Ozcelik, the leading opposition group in Syria will not last long without concessions and consensus with other factions. Although they share the goal of overthrowing President Bashar al-Assad's regime, the opposition factions in Syria have a number of different interests and sometimes conflicts.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/phe-doi-lap-dang-kiem-soat-nhung-vung-lanh-tho-nao-tai-syria-185241210114057418.htm
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