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In December 2024 violence flared up once again. Rebel factions, led by the Islamist group Hayat [[Tahrir al-Sham]] (HTS), had [[Battle of Aleppo (2024)|taken control of Aleppo]], prompting a retaliatory airstrike campaign by Syrian President Bashar Assad, supported by Russia. The strikes, which targeted population centers and several hospitals in [[Insurgency in Idlib|rebel-held]] city of [[Idlib]], resulted in at least 25 deaths, according to the White Helmets rescue group. The NATO countries issued a joint statement calling for the protection of civilians and critical infrastructure to prevent further displacement and ensure humanitarian access. They stressed the urgent need for a Syrian-led political solution, in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2254, which advocates for dialogue between the Syrian government and opposition forces. The [[2024 Syrian opposition offensives|rebel offensive]], which had begun on 27 November, continued its [[2024 Hama offensive|advance into Hama Province]] following their capture of Aleppo.<ref>{{cite news|title=Syria: US, Germany, France, UK call for de-escalation|date=2 December 2024|url=https://www.dw.com/en/syria-us-germany-france-uk-call-for-de-escalation/a-70933512|website=DW News|access-date=2 December 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=4 December 2024|title=Fighting Worsens Already Dire Conditions in Northwestern Syria|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/03/world/middleeast/syria-civil-war-rebels-aleppo.html|website=The New York Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Syrian hospital hit in air attack on opposition-held Idlib|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/program/newsfeed/2024/12/3/syrian-hospital-hit-in-air-attack-on-opposition-held-idlib|access-date=5 December 2024|website=Al Jazeera|language=en}}</ref>
On 4 December 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 HTS, around six miles from the city. However, despite reinforcements, the rebels captured the city on 5 December.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Syria rebels capture major city of Hama after military withdraws|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cql5r2px4yyo|access-date=5 December 2024|website=www.bbc.com|language=en-GB}}</ref> The fighting led to widespread displacement, with nearly 50,000 people fleeing the area and over 600 casualties reported, including 104 civilians.<ref>{{cite news|title=Syrian army launches counterattack as rebels push towards Hama|date=4 December 2024|url=https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20241204-syrian-army-launches-counterattack-as-rebels-push-towards-hama|website=France24|access-date=4 December 2024}}</ref> On 8 December opposition forces [[Fall of Damascus|captured]] the capital Damascus, toppling Bashar al-Assad's government and ending the Assad family's 53-year-long rule over the country.<ref name="fall">{{cite news|title=Syrian rebels topple President Assad, prime minister calls for free elections|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/syria-rebels-celebrate-captured-homs-set-sights-damascus-2024-12-07/|access-date=8 December 2024|publisher=Reuters|date=8 December 2024}}</ref> Assad has fled to [[Moscow]] with his family where he was granted asylum.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-12-08 |title=Ousted Syrian leader Assad flees to Moscow after fall of Damascus, Russian state media say |url=https://apnews.com/article/syria-assad-sweida-daraa-homs-hts-qatar-816e538565d1ae47e016b5765b044d31 |access-date=2024-12-09 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-12-08 |title=Syrians celebrate end of the Assad family's half-century rule after president flees to Moscow - CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/syria-civil-war-assad-fall-damascus-opposition/ |access-date=2024-12-09 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
===Post-Ba'athist Syria===
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Following the [[fall of the Assad regime]], Assad's ninth prime minister [[Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali]], with support from the opposition and [[Abu Mohammad al-Julani]], continued to lead a caretaker government until a [[Syrian transitional government|transitional government]] led by [[Mohammed al-Bashir]] was formed the following day.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://aawsat.com/العالم-العربي/المشرق-العربي/5089360-الجولاني-المؤسسات-العامة-ستبقى-تحت-إشراف-رئيس-الوزراء-السابق|title=الجولاني: المؤسسات العامة ستبقى تحت إشراف رئيس الوزراء السابق|publisher=aawsat.com|language=ar|date=8 December 2024}}</ref><ref>https://ilkha.com/english/world/mohammed-al-bashir-appointed-as-syria-s-prime-minister-after-assad-s-fall-431618</ref> Al-Jalali, during his one-day tenure, called for fresh elections so the Syrian people could choose their new leaders.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Lamb|first=Kate|date=8 December 2024|title=What's next? Syrian PM calls for free elections|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2024/dec/07/syria-rebels-reach-damascus-bashar-al-assad?CMP=share_btn_url&page=with%3Ablock-67553d768f0896ed0c237334#block-67553d768f0896ed0c237334|access-date=8 December 2024|work=The Guardian}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Syrian rebels topple President Assad, prime minister calls for free elections|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/syria-rebels-celebrate-captured-homs-set-sights-damascus-2024-12-07/|access-date=8 December 2024|website=Reuters}}</ref>
Shortly after the fall of the Assad regime [[2024 Israeli invasion of Syria|Israel commenced a ground invasion]] of the border region near the Golan heights, as well as commencing a series of airstrikes against military depots.<ref name="NYT 12-8">{{Cite news |last=Bergman |first=Ronen |date=8 December 2024 |title=Israeli Ground Forces Cross into Syria, Officials Say |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/08/world/middleeast/israel-demilitarized-zone-syria.html |access-date=9 December 2024 |work=The New York Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Fabian |first=Emanuel |title=Israeli strikes in Syria target weaponry it fears could be acquired by hostile forces |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/israeli-strikes-in-syria-weaponry-it-fears-could-be-acquired-by-hostile-forces/ |access-date=2024-12-09 |website=www.timesofisrael.com |language=en-US}}</ref> The [[Israel Defense Forces|Israeli Defense Forces]] claims that it is destroying Ba'athist military infrastructure, including chemical weapons plants, so that the rebels cannot use them.<ref name="NYT 12-8"/>
The transitional government has promised to allow Christians and other minorities to continue practicing their religion without interference. However, this has been met with doubts as the rebel forces has connections to Al Qaeda. Al Qaeda is encouraging the transitional government to attack Christians.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kumar |first=Anugrah |last2= |date=2024-12-08 |title=Christians in Syria face ‘uncertain, perilous future’ under HTS, persecution watchdog warns |url=https://www.christianpost.com/news/christians-in-syria-face-perilous-future-watchdog-warns.html |access-date=2024-12-09 |website=www.christianpost.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-12-09 |title=After Assad, Syria's Christians hope for 'rebirth' of country - Vatican News |url=https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2024-12/syrias-christians-cautiously-optimistic-fall-assad-government.html |access-date=2024-12-09 |website=www.vaticannews.va |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-12-06 |title=Rights groups cautious about Islamist rebels’ pledges to protect Syrian minorities |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/rights-groups-cautious-about-islamist-rebels-pledges-to-protect-syrian-minorities/7890287.html |access-date=2024-12-09 |website=Voice of America |language=en}}</ref>
== Geography ==
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