2024 Syrian opposition offensives

On 27 November 2024, a coalition of Syrian opposition groups called the Military Operations Command^[22] led by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and allied Turkish-backed groups^[23][24][25] in the Syrian National Army (SNA) launched an offensive against the pro-government Syrian Arab Army (SAA) forces in Idlib, Aleppo and Hama Governorates in Syria.

Northwestern Syria offensive (2024)
Part of the Syrian civil war
Map of offensive in Syria Map of the offensive in and around Aleppo city   Controlled by the Syrian Arab Republic   Controlled by the Syrian opposition   Controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces
Date 27 November 2024 – present (8 months and 2 weeks) Location Idlib, Aleppo and Hama Governorates, Syria Status Syrian opposition victory Fall of the Assad regime Creation of the Syrian transitional government Beginning of Operation Dawn of Freedom Israeli invasion of Syria begins Territorial changes Syrian opposition groups and Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria take control of Syria Israel occupies Quneitra Governorate
Belligerents
Syrian Salvation Government Syrian Interim Government  Turkey	Syrian Government  Russia[1]  Iran[2] Badr Organization[3] Hezbollah[3] Rojava[a]
Commanders and leaders
Abu Mohammad al-Julani Abdurrahman Mustafa İsmail Metin Temel	Suhayl al-Hasan[4] Kioumars Pourhashemi †[5] Mazloum Abdi
Units involved
Military Operations Command Tahrir al-Sham Red Bands Thermal Brigades Syrian National Army Sham Legion[6] Northern Storm Brigade[6] Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement[6] Jaysh al-Izza[7] Levant Front[7] National Front for Liberation Ahrar al-Sham[7] Sultan Murad Division[8]  Turkish Land Forces Ajnad al-Kavkaz[9] Liwa al-Muhajireen wal-Ansar[9] Turkistan Islamic Party in Syria[10]	Syria Armed Forces  Syrian Arab Army  Syrian Arab Air Force  Russian Armed Forces  Russian Aerospace Forces  Russian Air Force Spetsnaz GRU[11] Iranian Armed Forces  Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Pro-Iranian militias Popular Mobilization Forces[12] (since 2 December) Badr Organization[3] Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba[3] Syrian Democratic Forces People's Defense Units Women's Protection Units[13] Al-Bab Military Council[14] Manbij Military Council[15] Sheikh Maqsoud Liberation Forces[13] Ashrafieh Liberation Forces[13]
Casualties and losses
311 killed[16][17] 60 killed[17] 1000+ opposition fighters killed (government claim)[18]	208 soldiers killed[17] 21 soldiers captured[19][20] 21 pro-Iranian militiamen killed[16] 1 killed[16] 1+ killed 3 killed, several captured[21][13]
110 civilians killed[b]

It is codenamed Deterrence of Aggression by HTS and stated as being launched in retaliation for the increased SAA firing of civilians in the Western Aleppo countryside.^[26]

On 29 November 2024, HTS and the Syrian Democratic Forces entered Aleppo and captured most of the city, during the collapse of pro-government forces.

On 4 December 2024, fierce clashes erupted in Hama province as the Syrian army engaged Islamist-led insurgents in a bid to halt their advance on the key city of Hama. Government forces claimed to have launched a counteroffensive with air support, pushing back rebel factions, including Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), around six miles from the city. However, despite reinforcements, the rebels captured the city on 5 December.^[27] The fighting led to widespread displacement, with nearly 50,000 people fleeing the area and over 600 casualties reported, including 104 civilians.^[28]

On 7 December 2024, President Bashar al-Assad fled the capital of Damascus after the city was taken.^[29]

Notes

1. Since 30 November 2024
2. 95 killed by Russian and SAA air and artillery strikes and 12 killed by HTS shelling.^[17]