By Mousab Alhamadee
The Syrian opposition's major advances in the last ten days, especially the capture of Aleppo, the second biggest city in Syria, caught not only the international community off guard but also surprised Syrians themselves.
The opposition launched Operation “Deterrence of Aggression” on Nov. 27 to end the regime’s attacks on its strongholds in northwest Syria and facilitate the return of at least one million internally displaced persons (IDPs) to their towns in Aleppo, Idlib, and Hama. These towns had been captured by the regime in 2020 in violation of the Astana Process agreed upon by Turkey, Russia, and Iran. The operation successfully achieved its planned objectives within the first four days. However, everything that has occurred since then has been unplanned and unexpected.
Rawdan Ankir, a 42-year-old displaced person from Habit in southern Idlib, left Afrin—where he had been living since 2020—and headed back to his hometown as soon as it was declared “liberated” on the third day of the operation.
“Yesterday, I reached the outskirts of Habit but couldn't enter the city—there's still fighting nearby,” Ankir said in a phone interview from Jabal Al Zawiyah on Dec. 2. Reflecting on the opposition's unexpected gains at the expense of the Assad regime, he added, “I feel like the dead are coming back to life. The spirit of the revolution is back.”
When asked about the dominant opposition faction, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), formerly known as the Nusra Front, and concerns about their extremist Islamist ideology, Ankir offered a measured response: “People are watching their actions. There are good signs that they've changed. They even sent forces to protect the Sunday Mass at churches in Aleppo.”
'WE HAVE ROOTS AGAIN'
Kassar al Husni, 41, originally from Kansafra in Jabal Al Zawiyah, expressed mixed emotions. While overjoyed at the opposition's success, he worried about the safety of his wife and children, who remain in Idlib. Regime warplanes have launched retaliatory airstrikes, killing at least three people, he said.
This grim news doesn't change the fact that Husni is happy. “We have an unbelievable dose of joy and hope. We feel now that we have roots and land like everyone else on earth. It is time to put an end to our poverty and homelessness.”
However, Husni seemed frustrated with the help that was expected from Turkey but didn't arrive. “The Turks are our allies. They have their observation posts in Idlib and they keep saying we share one destiny. They are our protectors, and they must do more for us to protect us from the regime's indiscriminate air strikes.”
'HTS FACES A NEW REALITY'
Husni believes that the HTS, the leading opposition group in this new round of fighting, isn't the main problem for the people in newly captured territories.
Talking about Aleppo in particular, Husni said, “People don't care who you are. They are asking for electricity and water and for security. They are looking for a savior.”
However, Husni noted that if the HTS has not already changed, it will have no choice but to do so following these recent developments. “With the fall of Aleppo, the HTS now has five million more people to care for,” he explained, suggesting that the opposition must adopt a more inclusive approach to achieve long-term success.
A NATION ON THE MOVE
By Dec. 3, the opposition had captured the whole of Eastern Aleppo, including the strategic city of Al Safira. On Dec. 4, the opposition captured all towns in northern Hama, except for Qamhana, and seemed to head unstoppably towards the city of Hama itself. With the surprising fall of this vast territory, HTS needed new fighters and went on recruiting new members regardless of their ideology.
Mustafa al Turk, 39, explained that he joined the “public committees” to take part in the fight against the regime and to “liberate” his hometown of Qalaat Al Mudiq in northwest Hama which fell to the opposition on Dec. 3.
Reflecting on his journey from the Turkish border through Jabal Al Zawyah to Qalaat Al Mudiq, Turk described the devastation he witnessed in the newly captured territories by saying, “I've never seen such destruction in my life.”
However, Turk noted that people are still eager to return to their homes. For him and many others, it's not just about the houses—it's also about the land.
“Our farms and olive trees can help us make a living and rebuild our homes,” he said.
Ten days into their offensive, opposition forces succeeded in driving the Assad regime entirely out of Idlib and Aleppo provinces, capturing strategic arms depots, military positions, and even air bases. Over the past three days, the opposition has intensified its attacks in Hama province, with reports indicating that fighting has now reached inside the city. On the morning of Dec. 5, reports emerged of Russian warplanes taking off from the Russian air base Hmeimim in Latakia to strike the advancing opposition forces. Later, the same day, the Assad regime withdrew from the city of Hama. Opposition forces entered the city, released prisoners, and captured the military airport. As the regime’s failures appear to continue, the opposition says its focus is now on the city of Homs.
The situation remains volatile and unpredictable, but one undeniable fact stands out: Assad's forces are crumbling, often retreating without putting up a fight.
