The civil war in Syria, which had faded from international attention, has been reignited as Syrian rebels launched an offensive and seized Aleppo. This action has led to brutal response airstrikes by Syrian and Russian forces, resulting in hundreds of deaths. The rebels are led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a formerly al Qaeda-affiliated group, causing concern among anti-Assad activists about potential outcomes. The conflict has drawn in various international players, with Russia being distracted by the war in Ukraine and Iran facing setbacks from Israel. This has weakened Assad’s grip on power, but he still has strong support from Russia and Iran. The future role of the U.S. in the conflict, particularly regarding ISIS, remains uncertain, with President-elect Donald Trump’s potential policy changes. If Assad falls, Iran’s ability to support Hezbollah may be impacted, but the uncertainty around what or who would replace Assad causes concern for the future of Syria. While some hope for a positive outcome, the ongoing violence and power struggles in the region make a peaceful resolution unlikely.
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