New Delhi: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is on the back foot as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a rebel group, advances into northwestern Syria, seizing areas in the Hama, Idlib and Aleppo provinces. The rebel offensive comes as the most serious challenge to Assad’s regime after years of stasis in the Syrian war.
Russia, Iran, the United States, Israel and Turkey all have stakes in Syria, with this fresh upheaval creating ripples across borders and oceans. The military support extended by Russia, Iran and Iranian-backed militants has, so far, helped Assad maintain his grip over Syria. But with Putin’s forces deployed on the Ukraine war front and Iran’s attention on Israel’s war in Gaza, the Syrian rebels have a window of opportunity.
In Episode 1564 of #CutTheClutter, Editor-in-Chief Shekhar Gupta discusses how Hayat Tahrir al-Sham has emerged as the most challenging of rebel groups in Syria, why retaining the Homs province is key for Assad, and the implications of his losses for Russia, US, Iran and other countries engaged in the region.