A global alert has been raised following the return of jihadist forces to Aleppo, Syria’s second-largest city, after a rapid two-day offensive against Bashar al-Assad’s regime. By Saturday, rebel forces had taken control of significant parts of Aleppo, marking the first Russian airstrikes on the city since 2016. The assault was led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a group with a complex history tied to al-Qaeda. The ongoing conflict in Syria reveals a fractured landscape of control, with HTS solidifying power in regions previously held by the Islamic State.