Syrian Islamist rebels led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) launched a massive offensive against President Bashar al-Assad’s regime last week. The surprise attack, the largest in years, captured more than 50 towns and villages in northern Syria and “large parts” of Aleppo, Syria’s second-largest city.
HTS and allied rebel forces advanced rapidly from their base in Idlib, Syria’s last major opposition stronghold. By Friday, they entered western Aleppo, and faced minimal resistance as Assad’s forces retreated. The offensive prompted fierce retaliation, including Russian airstrikes on Aleppo – Russia’s first attack on the city since 2016 – killing 277 people, including 28 civilians.
What is Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)?
HTS began in 2011 as the al Qaeda affiliate Jabhat al-Nusra and was known for its effectiveness and brutality. “Hayat Tahrir al-Sham” translates to “Organization for the Liberation of the Levant”. Initially aligned with the Free Syrian Army in the rebellion against Assad, its strict jihadist ideology soon alienated it from other rebel factions.
Former Jabhat al-Nusra leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani heads HTS. The group follows Salafi-jihadi ideology, which focuses on toppling Assad’s government and establishing Islamic rule within Syria. Unlike al-Qaeda, HTS claims to pursue “local goals” rather than pursuing a global Islamic caliphate.
In 2016, the group’s leader broke ties with al Qaeda and changed the name of the organization, which later evolved into HTS after merging with other Islamist groups. Since then, HTS has served as the dominant force in Idlib, controlling a population of four million, many of whom were displaced during Assad’s military operations.
HTS:governance
Unlike the self-proclaimed Islamic State, HTS shifted its focus from global jihad to establishing a radical Islamic regime within Syria. This local ambition has allowed HTS to consolidate power in Idlib, where it acts as a de facto government. However, allegations of human rights abuses and bitter fighting with rival factions have tarnished its reputation.
HTS rules parts of Syria through the Syrian Salvation Government (SSG), which provides essential services such as food aid and welfare programs to approximately four million residents in its areas. The group controls vital resources, including the Bab al-Hawa border with Turkey, which facilitates humanitarian aid.
For years, HTS largely avoided large-scale military operations, seemingly content with its stronghold in Idlib. However, the recent offensive in Aleppo signals a change in strategy.
Idlib has been a bastion of resistance against Assad since the early years of the conflict. A fragile ceasefire brokered by Russia and Türkiye in 2020 allowed HTS to consolidate its hold on the province. Still, Aleppo’s history as a major battlefield – where rebels suffered their biggest defeat – adds symbolic weight to the current offensive.
