The recent offensive by rebels, particularly the Islamist militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, has led to the rapid fall of several key Syrian cities including Aleppo, Hama, and Homs, culminating in the isolation and unexpected fall of Damascus, the capital. Once thought to be secure with the backing of Russia and Iran, Bashar al-Assad’s regime is now facing severe challenges after losing critical support from his allies, resulting in unprecedented shifts in the ongoing conflict that has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives and displaced millions since its inception in 2011.