Arab Press

بالشعب و للشعب
Thursday, Jul 10, 2025

Anatomy of Regime Change: The Key Players in Syria's Tumultuous Fall

A multi-faceted rebel alliance topples Assad, spotlighting diverse actors and geopolitical concerns.
The seismic shift in Syria's political landscape, culminating in the ousting of Bashar al-Assad, is a tale of disparate factions uniting under a shared objective.

Among the pivotal actors in this historic upheaval, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) emerges as a dominant force.

Led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, known as Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, HTS orchestrated a swift offensive from its bastion in northwest Syria.

This group, evolving from the embers of al-Qaida and ISIS, has held sway over Idlib province since its formation in 2017, governing over two million people with a strategy growing more pragmatic despite concerns about its jihadist past.

In parallel, the Syrian National Army (SNA), a modulated coalition based in northern Syria, owes much of its operational support to Turkey.

Established in 2017, the SNA comprises a mélange of Arab and Turkmen factions, some rooted in the earliest resistances against Assad.

Recent maneuvers by the SNA against Kurdish groups near Manbij underscore Turkey's strategic imperative to forestall a consolidated Kurdish presence along its border, a move aimed at stabilizing regions for refugee repatriation.

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), primarily Kurdish-led and backed by the United States, holds significant territory in the northeast.

This actor, while integral in combating ISIS, remains a contentious presence due to Turkey's view of its core unit, the YPG, as a threat linked to Kurdish separatism within its realm.

Adding to the complexity, the Southern Operations Room, an amalgamation of southern Syrian rebel outfits, predominantly from Druze communities, has been crucial.

This new coalition has borne the brunt of repressive measures but advanced strategically towards Damascus, marking a break in the regime's resilient grip.

Finally, albeit weakened, the specter of ISIS looms.

Originally an al-Qaida splinter group that once commanded considerable resources, its presence persists in central Syria, with ongoing engagements by US forces underscoring the unfinished struggle against extremism.

This confluence of ideologically and geopolitically diverse forces outlines not merely an end to Assad's reign but a transitional chapter with potentially far-reaching regional implications.

As these groups vie for prominence, the international community's gaze remains fixed on Syria, apprehensive of what the next act in this complex saga might unveil.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Arab Press
0:00
0:00
Close
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Russia Formally Recognizes Taliban Government in Afghanistan
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Mediators Edge Closer to Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Agreement
Germany Seeks Taliban Deal to Deport Afghan Migrants
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
China Unveils Miniature Insect-Like Surveillance Drone
Marc Marquez Claims Victory at Dutch Grand Prix Amidst Family Misfortune
Iran Executes Alleged Israeli Spies and Arrests Hundreds Amid Post-War Crackdown
Trump Asserts Readiness for Further Strikes on Iran Amid Nuclear Tensions
Qatar Airways Clears Backlog of Passengers Following Missile Threats
Iran's Parliament Votes to Suspend Cooperation with Nuclear Watchdog
Trump Announces Upcoming US-Iran Meeting Amid Controversial Airstrikes
Trump Moves to Reshape Middle East Following Israel-Iran Conflict
NATO Leaders Endorse Plan for Increased Defence Spending
U.S. Crude Oil Prices Drop Below $65 Amid Market Volatility
“You Have 12 Hours to Flee”: Israeli Threat Campaign Targets Surviving Iranian Officials
Oman Set to Introduce Personal Income Tax, First in Gulf
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Trump Praises Iran’s ‘Very Weak’ Response After U.S. Strikes and Presses Israel to Pursue Peace
WATCH: Israeli forces show the aftermath of a massive airstrike at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site
We have new information and breaking details to share about what is shaping up to be a historic air campaign tonight
Six Massive Bombs Dropped on Fordow; Trump: 'A Historic Moment for the U.S., Israel, and the World'
Fordow: Deeply Buried Iranian Enrichment Site in U.S.–Israel Crosshairs
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
Pakistan to nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize.
Israel Confirms Assassination of Quds Force Commander in Tehran
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
G7 Leaders Fail to Reach Consensus on Key Global Issues
Mass exodus in Tehran as millions try to flee following Trump’s evacuation order
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
Energy Infrastructure Becomes War Zone in Middle East
Iran Conducts Ballistic Missile Launches Amid Heightened Tensions with Israel
Iran Signals Openness to Nuclear Negotiations Amid Ongoing Regional Tensions
Shock Within Iran’s Leadership: Khamenei’s Failed Plan to Launch 1,000 Missiles Against Israel
UK Deploys Jets to Middle East Amid Rising Tensions
Exiled Iranian Prince Reza Pahlavi Urges Overthrow of Khamenei Regime
Wreck of $17 Billion San José Galleon Identified Off Colombia After 300 Years
×