What We Know About the Details of the Rebels' Operations in Syria and the Armed Groups Involved

The ongoing clashes in northern Syria are the largest in the country since a period of relative calm for the government. Currently, the borders between areas controlled by armed rebels and those under government control are shifting. The armed rebels participating in this operation against Bashar al-Assad's government have so far dominated the provinces of Aleppo and Idlib. They are simultaneously trying to strengthen their positions and advance towards Hama province while targeting airports, military bases, and military colleges in these provinces. Currently, the armed rebels in northern Hama are facing a counterattack from Syrian government forces, which are supported by Russian air power. How did the rebels' attack begin? On Wednesday morning, December 7, the armed rebels, who call themselves the 'Military Operations Management,' launched their attacks under the slogan 'Response to Aggression.' This attack began from the outskirts outside the control of government forces in northwestern Syria, specifically from the outskirts of Idlib province and the western outskirts of Aleppo province. The first step was an attempt to enter Aleppo and capture its outskirts, which they achieved. Following this, after the 'Response to Aggression' operational groups entered Aleppo, the second group of armed factions, supported by Turkey, launched another attack on the eastern part of Aleppo under the slogan 'Dawn of Freedom.' While the first group was clearing neighborhoods in Aleppo and continuing military operations to seize the administrative borders of Idlib, the second group began capturing strategic positions, from airports and air bases to other military bases controlled by Kurdish armed groups and government forces. Which armed groups are leading the 'Response to Aggression' operation? The armed rebels conducting the military operation under the slogan 'Response to Aggression' have formed an operations room called 'Fath al-Mubin,' which is currently allied with the armed groups of the 'Dawn of Freedom' operation. In the 'Fath al-Mubin' operations room, the jihadist Islamist group 'Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham' (formerly known as the al-Nusra Front, designated as a terrorist organization by the US), 'Sham Brigade,' 'Jaysh al-Ahrar,' 'Ahrar al-Sham Movement,' and 'Jaysh al-Izza' (which was previously one of the Free Syrian Army groups) are present. 'Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham' is at the forefront of military actions of Islamist groups in this operation due to the type of training its members have received. However, this group cannot cover all fronts of the conflicts. Therefore, members of other armed groups opposing the Syrian regime, many of whom are local residents of Aleppo, Idlib, and Hama, have been stationed at various fronts. What do we know about the 'Dawn of Freedom' operation? At the head of this operation is the coalition known as 'Syrian National Army,' which is supported by Turkey. In this operation, the eastern part of Aleppo has been designated as the target. Since December 10, units from this section of the operation have taken responsibility for capturing positions that were jointly controlled by Syrian government forces and Kurdish units. The city of Tal Rifaat and the Ming and Kuweires air bases are among these positions that have completely fallen out of the control of Syrian government forces and Kurdish units. In this coalition, the armed groups 'Sultan Murad Brigade,' 'Sultan Suleiman Brigade,' 'Hamza Brigade,' 'Jaysh al-Islam,' and part of 'Sham Front' are present. These groups united in 2017 with Turkish support and carried out several military operations, the most famous of which was 'Euphrates Shield' against the Islamic State group known as 'ISIS.' In 2018, they also executed the 'Olive Branch' operation against Kurdish armed groups in the city of Afrin and its surroundings in northern Syria. In 2019, they participated in the Turkish army's operations in northeastern Syria, resulting in the capture of the two cities of Tal Abyad and Ras al-Ain.