Rebel forces initiated a significant offensive against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime, resulting in the capture of large parts of Aleppo, Syria’s second largest city. This surprise attack, led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), prompted Russian airstrikes in the region for the first time since 2016. HTS, formed from the Al Qaeda affiliate Jabhat al-Nusra, has a complex history in the Syrian conflict. The offensive underscores shifting dynamics in Syria’s ongoing conflict, previously perceived as subdued.