Syrian rebels enter Aleppo city

The civil war in Syria, which had faded from global attention, has escalated once again. Syrian rebel forces launched a major offensive on Aleppo, a key city in northern Syria. This surge in violence threatens to destabilize the region even more.

Why is there crisis in Syria?

• The conflict in Syriadates back to 2011. Many people were unhappy about the high levels of unemployment, widespread corruption and lack of political freedom.
• Inspired by the ‘Arab spring’ uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt, peaceful protests started in March.
• However, the peaceful demonstrations were met by swift government opposition.
• When the government used deadly force to crush the dissent, protests erupted nationwide. The violence rapidly escalated, eventually giving way to a brutal war.
• Now, the crisis is extending into its fourteenth year – with more people than ever sliding into deeper poverty and 16.7 million people in need of humanitarian assistance and protection.
• The Syria situation remains one of the largest displacement crises in the world, with a 2025 projection of 7.2 million internally displaced people(IDPs), and 6.2 million refugees, primarily hosted in the neighbouring countries of Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Türkiye. 

Importance of Aleppo:

• Aleppo, roughly 350 km north of the capital Damascus, has been a critical battleground in the Syrian civil war. Before the conflict, it was one of Syria's largest cities, home to 2.3 million people.
• In 2012, rebel forces seized the eastern half of Aleppo, making it a stronghold of the rebellion against President Assad.
• However, the balance shifted in 2016 when Syrian government forces, backed by a brutal Russian aerial campaign, recaptured the city.
  • Currently, the roughly 30% of Syria that is not under Assad's control is governed by a mix of opposition factions and foreign troops.
  • The United States has about 900 military personnel stationed in northeastern Syria.
• The siege of Aleppo became symbolic, marked by indiscriminate bombings, starvation tactics, and massive displacement.

Regional Implications:

• The significance of the fighting in Aleppo cannot be understated as it can turn around the power structure in conflict-hit Syria where President Bashar Assad has managed to steer away the opposition forces seeking his ouster for more than a decade.
• The timing of this offensive is crucial as Iran, Hezbollah, and Hamas are already involved in other conflicts, including in Lebanon and Gaza. These ongoing wars are draining their resources.
• Russia, which supports Assad in Syria, is distracted by its war in Ukraine, limiting its ability to provide full support to the Syrian regime.
• This offensive marks a significant shift in the Syrian civil war, with the potential to reignite conflict and further destabilize the region.