‘Resistance was not a choice’: how Syria’s unlikely rebel alliance took Aleppo

An Islamist commander retraces his brigade’s march to seize the Syrian city

Abu Obeida, a commander of the Northern Storm Brigade, left his mud-camouflaged Toyota running as he got out to inspect a dirt road running through no man’s land. The track separated his rural base, 16km north west of Aleppo, from a Hezbollah position 200 metres away.

A month ago, this front against the Lebanese group was where the Islamist rebel offensive that changed Syria for ever began. The 25-year-old’s unit was supposed to sweep for landmines and unexploded ordnance among the olive groves in the aftermath of the opposition’s stunning 12-day rout of Bashar al-Assad and his Russian, Iranian and Lebanese allies. It quickly became apparent that, amid many other more pressing tasks, his people hadn’t been thorough enough.

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U.S. in Direct Contact With Rebels Who Took Over Syria

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken said the United States was communicating directly with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the dominant rebel faction, despite its designation as a terrorist group.
The New York Times - Dec. 14
US in direct contact with Islamist rebels who took over Syria

Western and regional leaders seek to deal with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham despite designation as a terrorist group
Financial Times - Dec. 14
In Aleppo, Rebels Give a Sense of What Is to Come for Syria

Rebel fighters who took control of Aleppo about two weeks ago have promised security and continuity. Prices have skyrocketed, but residents express some hope for the future.
The New York Times - Dec. 11
How Syria’s Rebels Took Damascus, Captured on Video

Bashar Al-Assad’s grip over Syria was visible everywhere in the capital. It was all dismantled in less than 24 hours.
The New York Times - Dec. 10
How the Rebels in Syria Captured Damascus

A visual timeline of the stunning rebel advance in Syria
The New York Times - Dec. 10
How Syrian rebels took control after Assad fled to Moscow

Opposition forces have entered Syria's Damascus and President Bashar al-Assad has reportedly fled to Russia. CBS News' Imtiaz Tyab breaks down how the militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Shams (HTS) ...
CBS News - Dec. 9
Inside Aleppo: the Syrian city captured by rebels

Opposition supporters are ecstatic but others are wary of their new Islamist rulers as Assad regime begins counteroffensive
Financial Times - Dec. 4
Who Are the Syrian Rebels Who Seized Aleppo?

The group now advancing, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, says it wants to replace the Assad government with one inspired by Islamic principles.
The New York Times - Dec. 3
How a Syrian Rebel Went From an American Jail to Seizing Aleppo

Once affiliated with Islamic State and al Qaeda, rebel leader Abu Mohammed al-Jawlani professes religious tolerance. Many have doubts.
The Wall Street Journal - Dec. 2