Rebels swiftly topple Assad regime in Syria after surprise offensive

Syria's civil war saw a sudden shift as rebel forces led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham launched a surprise offensive on November 27, quickly toppling Bashar al-Assad's regime. Pro-Assad forces, which previously controlled over 60% of the country, faced rapid losses. In just 11 days, rebels captured key cities, including Aleppo and Hama, and advanced towards Damascus. By December 8, Assad fled to Russia, marking the regime's collapse. Following this change, Israel intensified military actions in Syria, conducting airstrikes and deploying troops. A new caretaker prime minister, Mohammad Al-Bashir, has been appointed to oversee Syria's transition.