The 14-year Syrian civil war reached a turning point in December 2024 as rebel forces, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), overthrew President Bashar al-Assad’s regime, ending over 50 years of his family’s rule. The rapid 11-day offensive captured major cities, including Aleppo, Hama, Homs, and Damascus, but ongoing violence and a deepening humanitarian crisis signal Syria’s fragile new chapter. How It Unfolded Rebels launched their assault from Idlib on November 27, 2024, seizing Aleppo within hours and advancing south. By December 8, opposition forces entered Damascus unopposed, declaring Syria “free” as Assad fled to Moscow. The Syrian army, weakened by defections and economic collapse, offered little resistance, while allies Russia and Iran, distracted by their own conflicts, failed to...