Syria, officially known as the Syrian Arab Republic, is an Arab nation in the Middle East, situated in the Levant region. The country boasts a rich history and some of the oldest inhabited cities in the world.
In 1963, Syria's government was taken over by the Ba'ath Party, led by Hafez al-Assad. For decades, he and his son and successor, Bashar al-Assad, would rule the country in a reign that has been highly criticized for being totalitarian and for carrying out widespread human rights abuses.
In 2011, a major civil war broke out in Syria, leaving governance of the country fractured between the Russia- and Iran-backed Assad regime based in Syria's largest city and capital of Damascus, US-backed rebel groups led by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Turkey-backed forces, and Islamists under the banner of Hay'at Tahir al-Shams (HTS).
However, in December 2024, HTS and its allies carried out a major offensive from their base of operations in the Idlib province, eventually fully ousting the Assad regime and seizing control of Damascus as well as other major cities such as Homs and Aleppo. Currently, HTS has been spearheading the establishment of a new Syrian interim government. However, the country still remains fractured between them, Assad loyalists, Turkey-backed forces, and the SDF and its allies.
NATO member Turkey has long backed Syria's armed and political opposition to ousted leader Bashar al-Assad, who was toppled in late December in a lightning offensive spearheaded by Sharaa's forces.
IDF kills, arrests Hezbollah terrorists in southern Lebanon • Operation continues in West Bank
There were no immediate claims of responsibility for the attack in Manbij, located some 30 km (19 miles) from the Turkish border.
Lapid offers safety net for deal • Hamas promises release of Russian hostage • IDF destroys terror infrastructure in Jenin in 'Iron Wall' op.
Under current considerations, Kurdistan is where Iran’s logistical access to its proxies can be disrupted.
Julani was born in Saudi Arabia, later lived in Damascus, and joined al-Qaeda before becoming the head of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham in Syria.
Live TV footage showed Julani shaking hands with the crown prince in the Saudi capital before sitting down for talks.
Syrian Kurdish leader Ilham Ahmed says Israel must be part of the solution for Middle East security as tensions rise between the SDF and Islamist rulers in Damascus.
Yarden Bibas, Ofer Kalderon, and Keith Siegel return home after 484 days in Hamas captivity • IDF opens fire on armed group in Syrian Golan
Early reports from media associated with the Axis of Resistance indicated that the Islamic Resistance Front in Syria claimed responsibility for the attack.
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