A surprising turn in Syria's civil war

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The Washington Post

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🗓️ 4 December 2024

⏱️ 20 minutes

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Summary

In the past week, the civil war in Syria reignited. Islamist rebels seized control of Aleppo, triggering a new phase in a years-long civil war. The Post’s Middle East bureau chief, Kareem Fahim, talks with host Elahe Izadi about why this moment matters.

Last weekend’s assault on Aleppo, Syria’s economic capital, poses the most serious challenge to President Bashar al-Assad in years. Government forces, supported by Russia and Iran, have controlled the majority of territory in Syria. Now, the government is fighting back against Islamist rebels who showed surprising strength.

This shakeup raises questions for the major foreign powers who have, directly or indirectly, become involved in the conflict, such as Russia, Iran and the United States. The incoming Trump administration will have to decide how it addresses one more destabilizing situation in the Middle East.

Host Elahe Izadi talks with Middle East Bureau Chief Kareem Fahim about the implications for Syria and for the wider regional conflict.

Today’s show was produced by Peter Bresnan, with help from Sabby Robinson, Ariel Plotnick and Rennie Svirnovskiy. It was mixed by Justin Gerrish and edited by Monica Campbell, with help from Alison MacAdam, Reena Flores and Lucy Perkins. Thanks to Jesse Mesner-Hage.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Starting last week, something extraordinary happened in Syria.
0:11.0	Armed Islamist rebels celebrated as they swept into one of Syria's largest cities.
0:19.6	Syrian rebels have launched a lightning offensive against the regime of Bashar al-Assad,
0:25.9	entering the northern city of Aleppo itself for the first time in eight years.
0:31.1	The rebels roamed the streets chanting and tearing down posters of President Assad.
0:37.9	The civil war in Syria has dragged on for 13 years.
0:42.2	This is the most successful push by the rebels in a very long time.
0:46.9	And this scene surprised everyone who's been following the conflict.
0:50.9	It was pretty stunning.
0:53.0	These front lines in the Syrian Civil War have been frozen for many years.
0:59.0	And to see the rebels advance that quickly was shocking, I think, to those of us who have
1:04.0	been watching and also did the rebels themselves who were not expecting to get as far as quickly
1:10.0	as they did.
1:15.3	Karim Fahim is the Middle East Bureau Chief for the Post, based in Istanbul.
1:20.8	And he says this development is an important moment in Syria's civil war.
1:25.0	Millions of Syrian lives have been upended during this war.
1:29.5	The fighting is drawn in foreign governments, including the United States,
1:36.2	Russia and Iran. Millions of refugees have spilled over the borders. The outcome of the conflict is hugely important. From the newsroom of the Washington Post, this is Post reports.
1:43.3	I'm Elahe-Izadi. It's Wednesday, December 4th.
1:47.0	Today, the Syrian Civil War reignites what that could mean for the Syrian people and for the major foreign powers involved, Russia, Iran, and the United States.
2:09.0	Kareem, we're going to get back to what's happening in Aleppo right now in a moment.
2:14.3	But first, can you take us back to the origins of this conflict?
	...

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