Rebel forces have emerged throughout the world’s modern history, hailed as valiant liberators or condemned as dangerous insurgents. They have redrew borders, redefined concepts of justice and freedom, challenged empires and inspired hope and fear. From the jungles of Latin America to the deserts of Africa, their legacies remain enduring and complex.
On November 27, a group of Syrian rebels led by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) launched an offensive against the regime of dictator Bashar al-Assad in northwest Syria, with the intent of retaking the city of Aleppo. Its success has shaken the balance of power in the country, which has been embroiled in civil war since 2011.
The movement of the jihadist rebels is causing a major headache for Russia and Iran, both of whom appear committed to saving Assad and his main ally, Hezbollah. Their rapid advance is also creating an immediate problem for Israel, which has been fighting Hezbollah in Lebanon and Syria as part of its campaign against ISIS.
HTS, known as the Organization for the Liberation of Levant, was created in early 2017 when some 30 different rebel factions merged into one large unified armed force. It is commanded by the veteran fighter Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, who was once a commander for al Qaeda in Iraq and later for Jabhat Fateh al-Nusra in Syria before splitting from the group in 2016.