Rebel forces are attempting to wrest control of Syria’s Hama. The move threatens to unravel a fragile cease-fire arranged by Ankara and Moscow. The group leading the attack is Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, also known as HTS. It started out as the official al Qaeda affiliate in Syria and fought alongside other groups that formed into rival coalitions after the civil war began. It is currently based in northwestern Idlib province. Its leader, Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, fought against the US in Iraq as a young soldier before moving to Syria. The US and other nations label the group a terrorist organization.
Several other groups are supporting HTS in this operation. They’re expected to help with logistics and possibly even supply the fighters for this offensive. The idea is to take advantage of a lull in Assad’s attacks and the chaos that is taking place in the country after several major battles between the regime and its backers in recent months.
Assad’s allies, including Russia and Iran, have vowed to continue backing his regime. But with a number of conflicts occupying the military resources of these key regional powers, they can’t help prop up the Syrian army as aggressively as in previous years. This has created a window of opportunity for these rebels, who are gaining in popularity among people in the country who are growing tired of the bleak future under Assad’s rule.