LONDON (AP) — Half a century of rule by the Assad household in Syria crumbled with astonishing velocity after insurgents burst out of a rebel-held enclave and converged on the capital, Damascus, taking metropolis after metropolis in a matter of days.
Opposition forces swept throughout the nation and entered Damascus with little or no resistance because the Syrian military melted away. President Bashar Assad, Syria’s ruler for twenty-four years — succeeding his father, Hafez Assad — was reported to have fled the nation for an undisclosed location.
It’s a surprising growth in Syria’s devastating 13-year battle. Anti-government protests in 2011 met with a brutal crackdown, escalating right into a civil battle that has killed greater than half one million folks and displaced half of Syria’s prewar inhabitants of 23 million. Assad, backed by Iran and Russia, regularly regained management of greater than two-thirds of Syria, leaving the rebels with one stronghold within the northwest of the nation.
And there the battle remained, largely frozen, for years till late November. Right here’s a take a look at a seismic two weeks for the Center East.
Wednesday, Nov. 27: Insurgent offensive begins
Armed opposition teams launch a large-scale assault on areas managed by authorities forces in northwestern Syria and declare to have wrested management of over 15 villages from authorities forces in northwestern Aleppo province. The federal government and its allies reply with airstrikes and shelling in an try and halt the rebel advances.
The offensive is led by the jihadi group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS. Previously the Syrian department of al-Qaida and referred to as the Nusra Entrance, HTS later distanced itself from al-Qaida, in search of to market itself as a extra average group. It’s classed as a terrorist group by the United Nations and the U.S.
The assault on Aleppo follows weeks of simmering low-level violence, together with authorities assaults on opposition-held areas. Turkey, a predominant backer of Syrian opposition teams, says the rebels started a restricted offensive to cease the assaults, nevertheless it expanded as authorities forces started to retreat.
Thursday, Nov. 28: The offensive expands
The offensive expands to achieve the countryside of Idlib province amid stories authorities troops are retreating.
Friday, Nov. 29: Rebels enter Aleppo
The insurgents enter Aleppo, Syria’s largest metropolis, for the primary time since they have been pushed out in 2016 after a grueling army marketing campaign by Syrian authorities forces backed by Russia and Iran. They meet with little resistance.
Saturday, Nov. 30: Aleppo falls beneath rebel management
The rebels say they management Aleppo, elevating a flag over town’s citadel and occupying the worldwide airport. The Syrian armed forces declare to have redeployed troops and gear in preparation for a counterattack.
By night, the insurgents have seized no less than 4 cities within the central Hama province and declare to have entered the provincial capital.
Sunday, Dec. 1: The federal government fights again
The Syrian army launches a counterattack with troops and airstrikes on Idlib and Aleppo. Iranian International Minister Abbas Araghchi visits Damascus, telling Assad that Tehran will help the counteroffensive.
However Assad receives little, if any, assist from his allies. Russia is busy with its battle in Ukraine, and Iran has seen its proxies throughout the area degraded by common airstrikes. Lebanon’s Iran-backed Hezbollah, which at one level despatched 1000’s of fighters to shore up Assad’s forces, has been weakened by a yearlong battle with Israel.
Monday, Dec. 2-Wednesday, Dec. 4: Preventing rages close to Hama
The insurgents push south, advancing to inside 10 kilometers (6 miles) of Hama, the nation’s fourth-largest metropolis and a key crossroads in central Syria, about 200 kilometers (125 miles) north of Damascus. State media stories fierce combating within the province, and each state media and a U.Okay.-based observer group say authorities forces, backed by Russian airstrikes, have recaptured some territory.
Turkey urges Assad to carry talks with the opposition.
Thursday, Dec. 5: Insurgents seize Hama
After a number of days of combating the rebels sweep into Hama. Dozens of jubilant fighters are seen firing into the air in celebration in Assi Sq., the positioning of large anti-government protests within the early days of the rebellion in 2011. The Syrian military says it has redeployed to positions exterior town to guard civilians.
Friday, Dec. 6: Rebels advance on Homs
Quickly advancing now, the rebels seize two cities on the outskirts of Homs, Syria’s third-largest metropolis. About 40 kilometers (25 miles) south of Hama, Homs is the gateway to Damascus and the placement of one in every of Syria’s two state-owned oil refineries. Capturing it might lower the hyperlink between Damascus, Assad’s seat of energy, and the coastal area the place he enjoys vast help.
The federal government denies stories that its army has withdrawn from town.
Prime diplomats from international locations together with Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey, Iran and Russia, maintain talks on Syria within the Qatari capital, Doha.
Saturday, Dec. 7: Homs falls and Assad’s grip weakens
Opposition forces take Homs after authorities forces abandon it. The insurgents say they’ve encircled Damascus and are finishing up the “final stage” of their offensive.
The U.N. particular envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, seeks pressing talks in Geneva to make sure an “orderly political transition,” as Syrian state media denies Assad has fled the nation.
Sunday, Dec. 8: Assad is toppled
Syrian state tv airs a video assertion by a gaggle of males saying that President Bashar Assad has been overthrown and all prisoners have been let loose.
Russian officers and Iranian state TV say Assad has left Syria; his whereabouts are unknown.
Prime Minister Mohammed Ghazi Jalali says the federal government is able to “extend its hand” to the opposition and hand over its capabilities to a transitional authorities.
— Jill Lawless
