Syrian rebels led by HTS capture key areas in Aleppo and Hama

On November 27, Syrian rebels, led by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), launched an offensive capturing Aleppo and Hama. HTS, once linked to al-Qaeda, is now the most powerful rebel group in Syria and is designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. HTS founder Abu Muhammad al-Jolani previously fought in the Iraqi insurgency and was part of a group that became the Islamic State. The group has a history of human rights abuses, including executions for alleged rival affiliations. The Syrian National Army has fluctuated between alliance and rivalry with HTS. Turkey, a supporter of anti-Assad forces, has recently called for reconciliation and denied involvement in the current offensive.