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| Syria's War Rages On |
The recent escalation in Syria has seen opposition fighters, led by groups like Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), launch a significant offensive against Syrian government forces. The offensive began on November 27, 2024, and has made rapid advances. Initially, the operation, named "Deterrence of Aggression," was a response to the increased shelling of civilian areas by government forces, particularly in Western Aleppo. Since then, opposition forces have captured towns and villages, even making progress toward Hama, a key city in central Syria.
The operation escalated quickly after government forces began to retreat from their positions, allowing the opposition to push deeper into territories previously held by pro-government forces.
This offensive is significant because it marks the first large-scale attack by opposition groups since the 2020 ceasefire in Idlib, and it has received some backing from Turkey. The offensive has also seen HTS make notable territorial gains.