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☆ Russian troops are likely still at their key bases in Syria, and it will be 'obvious' if they try to leave: senior analyst
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-11 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Russia hasn't mass-evacuated troops and gear out of its key bases in Syria. Russia said it's trying to work out a deal for its bases with the new Syrian government. The Russian military is still stationed at its Syrian bases after the fall of Bashar Assad's government, and analysts say an evacuation will be easy to spot. According to Russian state media, rebel forces now control the Latakia province, where these bases are located. "When Russian forces deployed to Syria in 2015, they flew almost 300 sorties in two weeks, and that was before base expansion," Massicot added.

Persons: it's, Bashar Assad's, Assad —, Dara Massicot, you'd, Massicot, Dmitry Peskov, Assad, Mohammed al, Bashir, Hayat Tahrir, Abu Mohammad al, Al, who's Organizations: Carnegie Endowment, International Peace, Financial, Institute for, Kremlin, Tartus Locations: Russia, Syria, Africa, Latakia, Tartus, Washington, Khmeimim, Moscow, Assad Syria, Hayat, Al Qaeda

☆ The US is striking targets across Syria, and it isn't the only one dropping bombs in this uncertain moment
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-10 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The US isn't the only military conducting strikes amid the uncertain situation in Syria. The US military has carried out extensive airstrikes in Syria since the Assad regime collapsed over the weekend, and it's not the only country on the hunt for targets in this uncertain moment. F-15 Strike Eagles, like the one pictured above, took part in the widespread strikes against ISIS over the weekend. The US military said the goal of the strikes was to prevent ISIS from reconstituting in central Syria. Related storiesThe Israeli military has also sent its ground forces across the Syrian border beyond a United Nations-monitored buffer zone that separates the two countries.

Persons: Assad, it's, Biden, John Kirby, Bashar Assad, Jonathan Lord, AAREF WATAD, Avi Melamed, Kirby Organizations: ISIS, US, Turkish, National Security, US Air Force, Central Command, Eagles, American, Pentagon, Sunday, Human Rights, Middle East Security, Center, New, New American Security, United, UN, Syrian Democratic Forces, AP, House, Syrian Army, Hezbollah Locations: Syria, State, Damascus, Sunday, reconstituting, Israel, Latakia, AFP, New American, United Nations, Turkish, Kurdish, Ankara, Turkey, Russia, Iran, Ukraine

American journalist Austin Tice is alive and in Syria more than a decade after his disappearance, his family says. Tice went missing in 2012 a few days after celebrating his 31st birthday in the country, where he went to report on the civil war that began in 2011. Siblings Meagan Tice Malone and Simon Robert Tice on Monday told MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell that the family has reliable information that their brother is alive but could not share how they know. Simon Robert was only 19 when his older brother went missing, he said. “We have a strong faith in the American government, and we were all raised with a faith in the American government,” Simon Robert Tice said.

Persons: Austin Tice, Tice, Bashar al, Meagan Tice Malone, Simon Robert Tice, MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell, ” Malone, “ It’s, Biden, ”, Simon Robert, “, ” Simon Robert Tice, there’s, Joe Biden, ” Biden, Hostage Affairs Roger Carstens, John Kirby, MSNBC “ That’s, he’s, ” Kirby, Andrea Mitchell, ” Hadi, Assad Organizations: The, Department, Hostage Affairs, U.S, NBC News, White House, MSNBC, National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary, Opposition Forces, NBC Locations: Syria, U.S, Syrian, Houston, Beirut, Lebanon

☆ What happened in Syria’s civil war, who took over and what’s next after decades of brutal rule?
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-09 | by ( Helen Regan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

They’re led by Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, the head of militant group HTS, a former al Qaeda affiliate in Syria that used to go by the name Al-Nusra Front. The leader of Syria's Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group Abu Mohammed al-Jolani at the capital's landmark Umayyad Mosque on December 8, 2024. Assad is the second generation of an autocratic family dynasty that held power in Syria for more than five decades. Analysts told CNN the Syrian rebels used a vacuum left by the group to advance in Syria. Syrian rebel fighters and locals celebrate in the central city of Homs early on December 8, 2024, after entering Syria's third city overnight.

Persons: CNN — Long, Assad, Damacus “, Bashar al, ”, Louai Beshara, ” It’s, They’re, Abu Mohammad al, al, Jolani, ” Jolani, Tahrir, Abu Mohammed al, Aref Tammawi, Hafez al, Sam Hariri, what’s, Joe Biden, Abdulaziz Ketaz, Syria Hossein Akbari Organizations: CNN, ISIS, Getty, Operations Command, Nusra, Syrian National Army, Syrian Democratic Forces, United Nations, Baath Party, UN, Amnesty, Saydnaya, Syria's, Ministry, AFP, Rebels, Hezbollah, Analysts Locations: Syria, ”, Russia, Aleppo, Idlib, Hama, Homs, Damascus, Moscow, AFP, Iran, Qaeda, al Qaeda, Turkey, Kurdish, United States, Umayyad, London, Ukraine, Israel, Assad Syria, Syrian, Syria's

☆ Timeline of how rebels toppled Assad’s regime in less than two weeks
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-09 | by ( Antoinette Radford | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Omar Haj Kadour/AFP/Getty ImagesAfter less than two weeks of fighting across Syria’s northwest, rebel groups swiftly seized control of the capital. November 30: Rebels take control of Aleppo cityPosters of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad were destroyed as rebel forces swept across the country. I swear to God, we are inside Hama city, we are inside Aleppo city,” a fighter cheered as he filmed himself by a local landmark in Hama. Video Ad Feedback Syrian rebels claim control of third city 00:46 - Source: CNNDecember 7: Homs fallsAfter moving south for days, the HTS quickly took control of Homs. Aref Tammawi/AFP/Getty ImagesEarly on Sunday morning, Syrian rebels declared the capital of Damascus “liberated” after entering the city with very little resistance from regime forces.

Persons: Bashar al, “, Assad family’s, Syria's, Assad, Omar Haj Kadour, Abu Mohammad al, Syria’s, ” Jolani, –, Mahmoud Hassano, ”, Ghaith, redeploying ”, Hassan Abdul Ghani, Tahrir, Abu Mohammed al, Aref Tammawi, Jolani, Sam Hariri, Kourdi, Mostafa Salem, Mohammad Tawfeeq Organizations: CNN, Getty, Rebels, Reuters, Flames, Syria's, Ministry, AFP Locations: Damascus, AFP, Syria’s, Russia, Umayyad, Hayat Tahrir, Syrian, Aleppo, Urm, Hama, Syria, ”, Homs, Daraa, Quneitra, Suwayda, Col, Aref, Moscow

☆ CNBC Daily Open: Political uncertainty intensifies over the weekend
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-09 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

This report is from today's CNBC Daily Open, our international markets newsletter. CNBC Daily Open brings investors up to speed on everything they need to know, no matter where they are. South Korea's president survives impeachment voteSouth Korean president Yoon Seok Yeol has survived an impeachment vote over the weekend after his ruling People's Power Party boycotted the vote. China consumer inflation rate drops to a five-month lowChina's headline inflation rate fell to a five-month low in November and missed expectations. The country's inflation rate climbed 0.2% from a year ago, lower than the 0.5% expected by economists polled by Reuters.

Persons: Hayat Tahrir, Sham, Syria's Assad, Bashar Al, Assad, Yoon Seok Yeol, Kospi Organizations: National Syrian Army, CNBC, Tass, RIA, South, People's Power Party, Nasdaq, Federal Reserve, Reuters Locations: Hama, Syria, Russia, Damascus, U.S, China

Omar Sanadiki/APPresident-elect Donald Trump weighed in Saturday on the escalating situation in Syria, where opposition forces have reportedly seized control of several cities and are advancing on Damascus. The president-elect also blamed the Obama administration for failing to enforce the 2013 “red line” that stated that Syria’s use of chemical weapons would mean US military action. Reiterating his “America First” stance, Trump argued that Syria is not the US’ fight. While in office, Trump ordered the launch of a military strike in 2017 on a Syrian government airbase in response to a chemical weapons attack that killed dozens of civilians. His decision at the time marked a dramatic shift in his position on whether the US should take military action against the Syrian president’s regime — which Trump opposed during his first campaign for president.

Persons: Omar Sanadiki, Donald Trump, ” Trump, Bashar al, Assad, Obama, Trump, ” Organizations: STATES Locations: Damascus, Syria, Russia, Ukraine, “ Syria, Syrian

Smoke rises as a member of the rebels, led by the group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, drives on a motorbike in al-Rashideen in Aleppo, Syria, on November 29. Mahmoud Hasano/ReutersSyria’s rebel coalition consists of Islamist and moderate factions who, despite their differences, are united in fighting the Assad regime, ISIS and Iran-backed militias. He created Jabhat al-Nusra, al Qaeda’s Syrian affiliate, and operated the group until a public split with in 2016 over ideological differences and opposition to ISIS. The Syrian National Army (SNA): The “Syrian National Army” incorporates dozens of factions with various ideologies that receive funding and arms from Turkey. In Syria’s south, fighters from the country’s Druze religious minority have also joined the fight, a local activist group told CNN.

Persons: Mahmoud Hasano, Assad, Al Sham, Abu Mohammad al, al, Sham, Tal Rifaat Organizations: Reuters, ISIS, Hayat, Organization for, Jolani, Syrian National Army, Liberation, Sharia, Free Syrian Army, Syrian Democratic Forces, Peoples ’, CNN Locations: Rashideen, Aleppo, Syria, Iran, al Qaeda, United States, Iraq, Syrian, Turkey, Kurdish, Tal, Daraa

Smoke rises as a member of the rebels, led by the group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, drives on a motorbike in al-Rashideen in Aleppo, Syria, on November 29. Mahmoud Hasano/ReutersSyria’s rebel coalition consists of Islamist and moderate factions who, despite their differences, are united in fighting the Assad regime, ISIS and Iran-backed militias. The Syrian National Army (SNA): The “Syrian National Army” incorporates dozens of factions with various ideologies that receive funding and arms from Turkey. In Syria’s south, fighters from the country’s Druze religious minority have also joined the fight, a local activist group told CNN. Druze are fighting in the southern city of as-Suwayda, which neighbors the Daraa province, where opposition forces claim to have taken control of Daraa city.

☆ Bashar al-Assad: The brutal leader whose family ruled Syria with an iron fist for more than 50 years
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-08 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The United States, Jordan, Turkey and the European Union at the war’s start all called for Assad to step down. Testament to the horror of that regime were scenes of jubilant celebration as rebel forces took control of Syrian cities. Bashar al-Assad, center, is seen during the closing session of the ruling Baath party congress in Damascus, Syria, on June 20, 2000. Bashar al-Assad was then thrust into the national spotlight and studied military science, later becoming a colonel in the Syrian army. They then turned to outright condemnation of the regime after he met the 2011 pro-democracy groundswell with brutal force.

Persons: Bashar al, Assad, Assad’s, SANA, Hafez al, Bassel, Hafez, Asma al, Barack Obama, ” Assad, ”, Syria's, Mohammed al, Ban, Washington, Syria wouldn’t Organizations: CNN, ISIS, European Union, Baath Party, Muslim, Hezbollah, Getty, UN, United Nations Locations: Syria, United States, Jordan, Turkey, Russia, Iran, Homs, Damascus, Soviet, Hama –, London, Europe, France, Germany, Italy, Assad, Hama, AFP, States, Western, US

☆ In a country splintered by civil war, could Syria’s rebels usher in a new dawn?
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-08 | by ( Sana Noor Haq | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

‘Extremely challenging’ transition of powerSyria’s armed opposition ultimately plans to form a government defined by institutions and a “council chosen by the people,” Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, the militant figure driving the latest rebel swing, told CNN. He heads the dominant group in the coalition, Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS), a former Al Qaeda affiliate. Jolani told CNN that abuse in prisons “were not done under our orders or directions” and HTS had already penalized the perpetrators. Thousands of people assembled at the foot of the main square in Damascus, where rebels ransacked Assad’s residence. Muhammad Haj Kadour/AFP/Getty ImagesAnd further afield, Syrian refugees forced to flee the war shared their hopes of returning to a peaceful country.

Persons: jubilation –, Bashar al, Assad, Firas, ” Abu Mohammad al, Hayat Tahrir, Jolani, God, ” Jolani, ”, Assad’s chokehold, –, ” Abu Mohammed al, Hayat, Abdulaziz Ketaz, Mohammad Ghazi Al, Jalali, Jerome Drevon, al, “, ” Adam Coogle, ” Maksad, ” Omar Daher, Mohammed Amer Al, Muhammad Haj Kadour, ” Wissam Ahmed, “ We’re Organizations: CNN, Free Syrian Army, East Institute, Hayat, Al, “ Militant Operations Command, Getty, Syrian, Crisis, United, Terrorist Organization, ISIS, Human Rights, Middle East Institute, Associated Press, Reuters Locations: Damascus, Syria, East, Lebanese, Washington, DC, ”, Assad Syria, Al Qaeda, Tehran, Turkey, Hayat Tahrir, AFP, Brussels, Iraq, United States, al Qaeda, Idlib, Homs, Aleppo, Syrian, Hayat, Lebanon

☆ What we know about Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the rebel group that led the offensive to oust Syria's leader
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-08 | by ( Nathan Rennolds | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Rebel forces led by the group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham swept through Syria, seizing Damascus. AdvertisementBashar Assad's 24-year rule came to an end on Sunday as rebels swept into Damascus, the Syrian capital. Jolani later returned to Syria, his homeland, where he fought with Jabhat Al-Nusra — an Al Qaeda offshoot formed in 2012 — and other rebel groups against Assad's forces. Jolani severed his ties with Al Qaeda in 2016 and formed a new group, which eventually became HTS in 2017. "Old-school Al Qaeda or the Islamic State would never have done that."

Persons: Bashar Assad's, Assad, Hayat Tahrir, Sham, Abu Mohammed al, Jolani, Jabhat Al, Nusra, Al, Al Qaeda, Aron Lund, Jonathan Panikoff Organizations: United Nations, PBS, Salvation Government, Al, Century International, Swedish Defense Research Agency, Sky News, Security Initiative Locations: Syria, Damascus, Here's, Moscow, Aleppo, Hama, Homs, Turkey, Lebanon, Syrian, Iraq, Al Qaeda, United States, Idlib Province, Idlib, Salvation, East

☆ What the Syrian rebellion could mean for the balance of power in the Middle East
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-07 | by ( Mostafa Salem | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

Syrian rebels have made a lightning advance in the north of the country, taking two major cities: Aleppo, the second biggest city, and Hama, a strategically important city that lies on a vital supply route. For Russia, Syria’s fall could mean losing its closest Middle Eastern ally and undermining its ability to project power while it fights a war in Ukraine. In 2023, the Syrian regime was readmitted to the Arab League. Over a decade after they backed the Syrian opposition, Gulf Arab states, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE, are now siding with Assad as he once again faces a rebellion. SANA/ReutersIn Syria, Israel has consistently targeted Iranian personnel and supply routes used to transfer weapons to its proxies.

Persons: Bashar al, ” Abu Mohammad al, Assad, wouldn’t, Emiratis, ”, Parsi, “, Amiri Diwan, ” Parsi, Abbas Araghchi, Al Araby Al, Israel Israel, Israel, Hadi, Israel debilitated, ” Al Bahra, Al Sham, Abu Muhammad Al Jolani, ” Avi Melamed, Russia Assad, Vladimir Putin, ” Assad, Nicole Grajewski, Vladimir Isachenkov, Moscow hadn’t, ” Grajewski, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Galip Dalay, ” Dalay, Erdogan Organizations: CNN — Global, Al, CNN, Saudi, United Arab, Hezbollah, Arab League, Gulf, Washington DC, Quincy Institute ., Gulf Cooperation Council, Gulf Cooperation, Getty, Islamic, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Hamas, Iran's, Iranian, West, Trump, Syrian National Army, Reuters, “, Nuclear, Carnegie Endowment, International, Moscow, Chatham House, Kurdistan Workers ’ Party Locations: Syria, Aleppo, Hama, Homs, Damascus, “, Al Qaeda, Israel, Russia, Ukraine, Iran, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, UAE, Gulf Arab, Arab, ”, Bayan, Kuwait City, Kuwait, State, Qatar, Anadolu, Iran Iran, Islamic Republic, Assad, SANA, Lebanon, Qatari, Al Araby Al Jadeed, Tehran, Turkey, Hayat, Qaeda, “ Israel, Russian, Syrian, “ Russia, ” Turkey Turkey, Ankara, London, Turkish, Kurdistan, Kurdish, Iraq

☆ Syrian rebels close in on Damascus, threatening Assad's hold on power
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-07 | by ( Nathan Rennolds | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A rebel commander said opposition forces had begun to encircle the Syrian capital, Damascus. Damascus is the seat of power for Syrian President Bashar Assad. Rebel forces have already seized the key cities of Aleppo and Hama and are advancing on Homs. AdvertisementAnti-government forces said Saturday they had begun to encircle Damascus, Syria's capital, threatening President Bashar Assad's hold on power. "Our forces have begun implementing the final phase of encircling the capital, Damascus," rebel commander Hassan Abdul-Ghani said in a post on social media.

Persons: Bashar Assad, Bashar Assad's, Hassan Abdul, Ghani, Hayat Tahrir, Al, Assad's, Vladimir Putin's, Assad, Israel, Donald Trump, Obama, Trump Organizations: Hudson Institute's Center for Peace, Security, STATES Locations: Damascus, Aleppo, Hama, Homs, Syria's, Assad's, Russia, Iran, Moscow, Syria, Africa, Russian, Ukraine, Tehran, Baghdad, Beirut, Lebanese, Israel, United States

☆ Syrian rebels say they are surrounding Damascus, threatening Assad's hold on power
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-07 | by ( Nathan Rennolds | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Persons: Bashar Assad, Bashar Assad's, Hassan Abdul, Ghani, Hayat Tahrir, Al, Assad's, Vladimir Putin's, Assad, Israel, Donald Trump, Obama, Trump Organizations: Hudson Institute's Center for Peace, Security, STATES Locations: Damascus, Aleppo, Hama, Homs, Syria's, Syria, Assad's, Russia, Iran, Moscow, Africa, Russian, Ukraine, Tehran, Baghdad, Beirut, Lebanese, Israel, United States

Syria CNN —The goal of Syria’s rebel coalition, as it wrests another major city from government control this week, is ultimately to overthrow authoritarian President Bashar al-Assad, according to Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, the militant leader of the main group driving the country’s armed opposition. Syria’s opposition forces are decentralized and made up of different ideologies, albeit united by a common goal of upending the Assad regime. As CNN sat down to interview al-Jolani, news broke that forces under his command had captured the city of Hama. Al-Jolani told CNN that incidents of abuse in prisons “were not done under our orders or directions” and HTS had already held those involved accountable. “We are talking about a larger project – we are talking about building Syria,” Al-Jolani continued.

Persons: Bashar al, Assad, Abu Mohammad al, Jolani, Hayat, ”, Abdulaziz Ketaz, upending, “, al, Al Nusra, Al Jazeera, – Ahmed al, –, Ibrahim Hatib, chokehold, ” Al, “ Hayat, Sham, ” CNN’s Mostafa Salem, Isil Sariyuce Organizations: Syria CNN, CNN, Getty, United, Terrorist Organization, Organization for, United Nations, Foreign Terrorist Organization, “, Al, Air Defense Brigade, Assad Russian, Iran’s, Guard, Syrian Air Force, Russian Locations: Syria, Hayat Tahrir, Qaeda, Syrian, Hama, AFP, Aleppo, Iran, Russia, al Qaeda, United States, Al, Iraq, US, Turkey, Idlib, Anadolu, ”, “ Hayat Tahrir

☆ The War in Syria Has a New Map. Again.
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-06 | by ( Samuel Granados | Vivian Yee | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +8 min

The War in Syria Has a New Map. Turkish army and Syrian opposition Joint control with Syrian government TURKEY Aleppo Kurdish forces Rebels Raqqa Advances since November Hama IRAQ Homs Syrian government LEB. Locations controlled by Syrian gov’t and allies Joint control with Kurds2014 2017 Aleppo Deir al-Zour Hama Homs Damascus 2019 2024 Approx. area seized by rebels since November 2024 2014 2017 2019 Aleppo Deir al-Zour Hama Homs Damascus Approx. Looking for protection against Turkey, the Kurdish-led forces turned to Damascus, allowing Mr. al-Assad’s forces to return to parts of northern Syria, where they have co-existed since.

Persons: JORDAN, Janes, Bashar al, Here’s, al, Assad, —, Syrian gov’t, Hezbollah —, Al, Donald J, Trump Organizations: Rebels Raqqa, Raqqa, Carter, Islamic, Government, Hezbollah, United, Carter Center Forces, Turkish, Syrian, Kurdistan Workers ’ Party Locations: Syria, TURKEY Aleppo Kurdish, Hama IRAQ Homs Syrian, LEB, Damascus, SYRIA Latakia Deir al, Hama Homs IRAQ Syrian, LEBANON Damascus, Aleppo, Hama, Syria’s, Idlib Aleppo Deir al, Zour Homs Damascus, Homs Damascus, al, Hasakah, Islamic State, State, Syrian, Aleppo Deir al, Zour Hama Homs Damascus, Iran, Idlib Province, Iraq, Raqqa, United States, U.S, Kurdish, Turkish, Turkey, Syrian Kurdish, Kurdistan

☆ Syria's Assad can't count on Iran to stop the rebel offensive
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-05 | by ( ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Since the early stages of Syria's bloody civil war that began in 2011, Iran has supported Syria's strongman president, Bashar Assad. Advancing in the face of Russian and Syrian airstrikes, they overran Syria's fourth-largest city, Hama, on Thursday. Earlier in the Syrian conflict, Iran helped orchestrate interventions on Assad's side by its powerful Lebanese proxy Hezbollah in 2013, and Russia in 2015. While Iran will undoubtedly remain committed to supporting Assad, it's unlikely to prove capable of organizing a 2016-style counteroffensive to recapture Aleppo. Century's Lund recalled that the last time Iran intervened to help Assad recapture Aleppo, it did so in close collaboration with Russia.

Persons: I'm, Bashar Assad, Tahrir, Aron Lund, Assad, Lund, Barbara Slavin, Slavin, Kasim Rammah, Arash Azizi, Azizi, Century's Lund, Stimson's Slavin, Donald, Trump, Paul Iddon Organizations: Syria's, Century, Swedish Defence Research Agency, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Stimson, Iran Initiative, Atlantic Council, Getty, Syrian National Army, Trump, Clemson University, Russia, Russian Locations: Iran, Aleppo, Tehran, Hama, East, Russia, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Washington, Turkey, Idlib, Anadolu, Turkish, Syrian, Ukraine

☆ US left facing a difficult situation in Syria as rebels make massive advances against Assad regime
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-02 | by ( Haley Britzky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

And despite efforts by HTS to distance itself from al Qaeda, the US designated the group a terror organization in 2018, saying it evolved from the original group, Jabhat al-Nusrah. “As you know, they are formerly known as ‘Nusrah Front,’ an al Qaeda affiliate in Syria, but bottom line is: still a designated terrorist organization,” Ryder said Monday of HTS. Amid the renewed unrest in the country, roughly 900 US service members are deployed in Syria as part of the anti-ISIS mission. And on Friday, he said, US forces conducted a “self-defense strike near MSS Euphrates,” taking out a potential threat to the US base. Ryder said that was “completely unrelated to the ongoing situation in northwestern Syria.” He added that there have not yet been any US force posture changes in Syria.

Persons: Pat Ryder, Hayat Tahrir, ”, Jake Sullivan, Assad, ” Sullivan, we’re, Abu Mohammad al, ” Ryder, Matthew Miller, Bashar al, —, Ryder, “, CNN’s Jennifer Hansler, Michael Conte Organizations: Washington CNN, ISIS, Pentagon, CNN, State, State Department Locations: Aleppo, Syria, Syria’s, United States, Russia, Iran, al Qaeda Syrian, al Qaeda, Moscow, Idlib, Iraq

CNN —Syrian and Russian jets have carried out strikes on opposition forces in northern Syria in retaliation for the sudden offensive that has cost the regime control of the country’s second largest city, Aleppo. The rebels consolidated their gains Sunday capturing key military sites in the east of Aleppo city. The opposition forces’ control of Aleppo means that the regime counteroffensive promised by the Syrian defense ministry would be very difficult to carry out. Government aircraft – along with Russian planes based in Syria – have carried out bombing raids against opposition positions in Aleppo and Idlib provinces. “Should they be cheering the opposition taking over Syria’s second-largest city Aleppo, or should they actually worry about the city falling under Islamist rule?” she said.

Persons: Bashar al, Assad, ’, Hayat Tahrir, Asli, “, Aydintasbas, ” Organizations: CNN, Military Operations Command, Government aircraft, Saturday, Nusra, US, Brookings Institution Locations: Syria, Aleppo, Idlib, Iran, Russia, Syrian, Turkey, Qaeda

☆ What to know about sudden rebel gains in Syria’s 13-year war and why it matters
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-30 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Ap-Live-Blog-Byline-Image.Png | The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

The 13-year civil war in Syria has roared back into prominence with a surprise rebel offensive on Aleppo, one of Syria’s largest cities and an ancient business hub. The push is among the rebels’ strongest in years in a war whose destabilizing effects have rippled far beyond the country’s borders. Assad has been at war with opposition forces seeking his overthrow for 13 years, a conflict that’s killed an estimated half-million people. The roughly 30% of the country not under Assad is controlled by a range of opposition forces and foreign troops. Turkey has forces in Syria as well, and has influence with the broad alliance of opposition forces storming Aleppo.

Persons: Bashar Assad, Assad, Robert Ford, Israel Organizations: Russian, Islamic Locations: Syria, Aleppo, Russia, Iran, Iranian, Israel, Gaza, Hezbollah, Lebanon, Europe, U.S, Islamic State, Turkey

☆ What’s happening in Syria? A simple guide
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-30 | by ( Lauren Kent | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

The offensive is the first time opposition forces have seized territory in Aleppo since 2016, shattering the stalemate of a war that never formally ended. Extremist Islamists including al Qaeda took an interest in Syria, taking up a common cause with the moderate Syrian opposition who did not welcome jihadist involvement. Analysts told CNN that the Syrian rebels are using a vacuum left by the group to advance in Syria. The new grouping is made up of a broad spectrum of opposition forces, from Islamist factions to moderates. The backbone of the SDF are Kurdish fighters from a group known as the Peoples’ Protection Units (YPG), which has previously fought other Syrian opposition groups.

Persons: CNN —, Bashar al, Assad, Assad –, Syria’s, al Qaeda, al, CNN’s Eyad Kourdi, Ben Wedeman, Mostafa Salem, Christian Edwards Organizations: CNN, Saudi, United Arab, Guard, Syrian Air Force, Russian, ISIS, Syrian Democratic Forces, Operations Command, ”, Iranian, Analysts, Nusra, Peoples ’ Locations: Aleppo, Syria, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, United States, Iran, Russia, Kurdish, Idlib, Ukraine, Israel, Syria’s, Hayat Tahrir, Qaeda, al Qaeda

☆ In a shock offensive, insurgents breach Syria’s largest city for the first time since 2016
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-30 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

The advance on Aleppo followed a shock offensive launched by insurgents Wednesday, as thousands of fighters swept through villages and towns in Syria's northwestern countryside. A ceasefire in Hezbollah's two-month war with Israel took effect Wednesday, the day the Syrian opposition factions announced their offensive. Turkish security officials said Thursday that Syrian opposition groups initially launched a long-planned "limited" offensive toward Aleppo, where attacks targeting civilians originated. Besides backing opposition forces, Turkey has also established a military presence in Syria, sending troops into parts of the northwest. The opposition groups also seized heavy weapons and military vehicles belonging to the government forces, the agency said.

Persons: Hayat Tahrir, Robert Ford, Israel, Dareen Khalifa, It's, Hezbollah's, Bashar Assad's, Dmitry Peskov, Rami Abdurrahman, Abbas Araghchi Organizations: Syrian Observatory, Human Rights, International Crisis Group, Islamic, Anadolu Agency, Iranian, U.S, Zionist Locations: Rashidin, Aleppo, Hayat, Gaza, Lebanon, Israel, Russia, Iran, U.S, Syria, Hayat Tahrir, Hezbollah's, Ukraine, Turkey, Syrian, United States, Syrian Kurdish, Idlib, Damascus, Turkey's, Palestine

☆ Syrian rebels take control of most of Aleppo city
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-30 | by ( Eyad Kourdi | Sophie Tanno | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Syrian opposition forces have taken control of much of the country’s second largest city Aleppo, according to video verified by CNN and residents in the city. It is the first time Syrian rebels have set foot in Aleppo since government forces regained control during the Civil War in 2016. By Saturday morning, rebel fighters had taken control of large swathes of the city, according to footage geolocated by CNN. In response to the rebel advance, the Russian air force on Friday launched an aerial offensive against Syrian armed opposition forces in Aleppo and Idlib provinces, Russian state media reported. Prior to this week’s attack they held two Kurdish neighborhoods but have now moved into areas that the Syrian regime used to control.

Persons: “, Bassel, Assad, Bashar al, Muhammad Haj Kadour, Hassan Abdelghani, ”, –, Russia – Organizations: CNN, Rebel, Rebels, Operations Command, US, Free Syrian Army, United Nations Locations: Aleppo, reigniting, AFP, Idlib, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Iran, United States, Russia

BEIRUT — Islamist rebels breached neighborhoods in Syria’s second-largest city of Aleppo and clashed with government military forces after detonating two car bombs Friday. The Syrian Observatory of Human Rights, the monitoring organization, said fierce clashes were underway between the attacking insurgents and regime troops. Syrian armed forces were repelling attacks, the Syrian Defense ministry said Friday, adding government forces involved in combat operations were able to regain control over some areas. "Our armed forces have inflicted heavy losses on the attacking organizations, resulting in hundreds of deaths and injuries among the terrorists," Syria's general command of the army and armed forces said in a statement translated by NBC News. The Syrian civil war started in early 2011 with a wave of protests against the authoritarian rule of President Bashar al-Assad.

Persons: Bakr, Witnesses, Bashar al, Assad, Assad's, Matt Bradley, Daniel Arkin Organizations: Associated Press, Syrian Observatory of Human, Fighters, Getty, AP, Syrian Defense, NBC News, Syrian Observatory, Human Rights Locations: BEIRUT, Syria’s, Aleppo, Russia, Iran, Rashidin, AFP, Syrian, Beirut, Atlanta

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