Authenticity and Development Front: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 08:52, 15 December 2024

Revision as of 03:22, 19 December 2024

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{{Short description|PoliticalAlliance of rebel groups opposedduring the toSyrian BasharCivil al-AssadWar}}

{{update|date=December 2018}}

{{About|Syrian opposition during the Syrian civil war|other historic opposition in Syria|Syrian opposition (disambiguation)}}

{{infobox war faction

<noinclude>{{Requested move notice|1=Syrian opposition to Bashar al-Assad|2=Talk:Syrian opposition#Requested move 13 December 2024}}

| name = Authenticity and Development Front<br />جبهة الأصالة والتنمية<ref name=ctc>{{cite web|url=https://www.ctc.usma.edu/posts/the-non-state-militant-landscape-in-syria|title=The Non-State Militant Landscape in Syria|publisher=Combating Terrorism Center|date=27 August 2013|access-date=19 May 2014|archive-date=15 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140515153135/https://www.ctc.usma.edu/posts/the-non-state-militant-landscape-in-syria|url-status=dead}}</ref><br />Jabhat al-'asalah wa'l-tanmiyah

</noinclude>{{Update|part=governance, territorial control, military forces and recognition, to better reflect the state of the, now former, opposition in the latter stages of the war|date=December 2024}}

| common_namewar = [[Syrian oppositionCivil War]]

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}

| image = [[File:ADFlogo2015.png|200px]]

{{Infobox country

| time_zone_DSTcaption =

| conventional_long_name = Syrian opposition

| active = November 2012 – present<ref name="BBC17Oct">{{Cite news |title=Syria crisis: Guide to armed and political opposition|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-24403003|last=Sinjab|first=Lina|work=BBC|date=17 October 2013|access-date=19 May 2014}}</ref>

| native_name = {{native name|ar|المعارضة السورية|paren=off}}<br>{{transliteration|ar|ALA|al-Muʻaraḍat as-Sūrīyah}}

| ideology = [[Islamism]]<ref name=ceip8April>{{cite web|url=http://carnegieendowment.org/syriaincrisis/?fa=55275|title=The Mujahedeen Army of Aleppo|publisher=Carnegie Endowment for International Peace|date=8 April 2014|access-date=19 May 2014}}</ref>

| common_name = Syrian opposition

| clans = Unification Army<ref>{{cite web|url=http://civilwaralsham.com/the-northwest/2016/3/29/jaysh-al-tawhid-adf|title=Northern Homs based rebel group joins Authenticity and Development Front|access-date=2017-05-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170807232311/http://civilwaralsham.com/the-northwest/2016/3/29/jaysh-al-tawhid-adf|archive-date=2017-08-07|url-status=dead}}</ref><br />[[Lions of the East Army]] <small>(Former)</small><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://en.deirezzor24.net/the-authenticity-and-development-front-cuts-all-of-its-ties-with-the-new-syrian-army/ |title=The Authenticity and Development front cuts all of its ties with the New Syrian Army. &#124; en.deirezzor24.net |access-date=2018-09-02 |archive-date=2018-09-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180902084544/http://en.deirezzor24.net/the-authenticity-and-development-front-cuts-all-of-its-ties-with-the-new-syrian-army/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><br />[[The White Shroud]]

| image_flag = Flag of Syria 2011, observed.svg

| flag_typeleaders = Khalid al-Hamad <ref name= [[Flag of Syria|Flags]]ctc/>

| image_coat headquarters =

| image_map area = Syrian opposition map November*[[Aleppo 2024.svgGovernorate]]

*[[Hama Governorate]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2017/03/analysis-insurgents-launch-major-offensive-against-assad-regime-in-hama-province.php|title=Analysis: Insurgents launch major offensive against Assad regime in Hama province - FDD's Long War Journal|website=FDD's Long War Journal|date=24 March 2017}}</ref>

| map_caption = Areas under control of various opposition groups as of December 2024<br />Syrian Opposition groups active in the [[Syrian Civil War]]:<br />{{Center block|{{Leftlegend|#339533|[[Syrian Interim Government|Interim Government]] ([[National Coalition of Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces]] and [[Syrian National Army]])}}{{Leftlegend|#073f3f|[[Syrian Salvation Government|Salvation Government]] ([[Tahrir al-Sham]])}}{{Leftlegend|#1d5e79|[[al-Tanf]] ([[Syrian Free Army|Revolutionary Commando Army]])}}{{Leftlegend|#800080ff|[[Southern Operations Room]]}} ([[Southern Front (Syrian rebel group)|Southern Front]] and [[Al-Jabal Brigade]]) {{Leftlegend|#24057bff|[[Golan Heights]] (occupied by Israel since 1967)}}}}

| image_map2size =

| partof = {{flagicon image|Flag of Mujahideen Shura Council (Syria).svg}} [[Mujahideen Shura Council (Syria)|Mujahideen Shura Council]] (2014–2015) <br />{{flagdeco|Syrian Opposition}} [[Syrian National Army]]

| flag_caption = [[Flag of Syria|Flag of the Syrian opposition]]<ref name=History>{{Cite web|url=https://syrianobserver.com/syrian-actors/a_new_flag_the_opposition.html|title=A New Flag for the Opposition - The Syrian Observer|first=T.|last=S|date=November 13, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Shekani |first1=Helbast |title=Syrian opposition changes flag, adds Islamic inscription |url=http://www.kurdistan24.net/en/news/442b399e-7831-4c3b-a896-1c8df7571005 |accessdate=14 November 2018 |agency=Kurdistan 24 |publisher=Kurdistan 24 |date=12 November 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=December 6, 2024 |title=Abu Mohammed al-Golani: the leader of Syrian HTS rebels steering shock offensive |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/abu-mohammed-al-golani-former-al-qaeda-chief-who-is-syrias-leading-rebel-2024-12-05/ |work=[[Reuters]] |quote=On Wednesday he visited Aleppo's citadel, accompanied by a fighter waving a Syrian revolution flag - once shunned by Nusra as a symbol of apostasy but recently embraced by Golani, a nod to Syria's more mainstream opposition, another video showed.<br/>"He's really important. The main rebel leader in Syria, the most powerful Islamist," said Lund.<br/>"They have adopted the symbols of the wider Syrian uprising..., which they now use and try to claim the revolutionary legacy - that 'we are part of the movement of 2011, the people who rose up against Assad, and we are also Islamists'."}}</ref>

*[[Hawar Kilis Operations Room]] <small>(2017-present, Northern Aleppo branch only)</small>

| national_anthem =

| predecessor =

| official_languages = [[Arabic language|Arabic]]

| national_anthemsuccessor =

<!-- HIDE THIS UNTIL CITATIONS ARE FOUND

| allies = {{flag|Turkey}}<br />{{flagicon image|}} [[Tahrir al-Sham]]<br />{{flagicon image|Logo of Jaysh al-Islam.jpg}} [[Jaysh al-Islam]]<br />{{flagicon image|Flag of Ahrar ash-Sham.svg}} [[Ahrar al-Sham]]<br />{{flagdeco|Syrian Opposition}} [[Saraya Ahl al-Sham]]

| languages_type = Other languages

| opponents = {{flagdeco|Syria}} [[Syrian Arab Armed Forces]]<br />{{flag|Iran}}<br />{{flag|Russia}}<br />{{flagicon image|flag of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.svg}} [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant]]<ref name="haidara">{{cite web|url=http://eldorar.com/node/71720|title=ثوار القلمون يطردون تنظيم "الدولة" من مناطق جديدة|work=الدرر الشامية|date=15 March 2015}}</ref><br />{{flagicon image|InfoboxHez.PNG}} [[Hezbollah]]<br />{{flagicon image|PFLP-GC Flag.svg}} [[Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine – General Command|PFLP-GC]]<br />{{flagicon image|Flag of Syrian Democratic Forces.svg}} [[Syrian Democratic Forces]]

| languages = [[English language|English]]{{Citation needed|date=August 2018}} [[Turkish language|Turkish]]{{Citation needed|date=August 2018}} [[French language|French]]{{Citation needed|date=August 2018}} -->| capital = [[Damascus]]<br> [[Azaz]] (''de facto'' by the [[Syrian Interim Government|SIG]])<ref name="War on the Rocks 2017">{{cite web | title=Turkey's Idlib Incursion and the HTS Question: Understanding the Long Game in Syria | author=Charles Lister | website=War on the Rocks | date=31 October 2017 | url=https://warontherocks.com/2017/10/turkeys-idlib-incursion-and-the-hts-question-understanding-the-long-game-in-syria/ | access-date=8 May 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190604170519/https://warontherocks.com/2017/10/turkeys-idlib-incursion-and-the-hts-question-understanding-the-long-game-in-syria/ | archive-date=4 June 2019 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="al-Khateb">{{cite web | last=al-Khateb | first=Khaled | title=Idlib still wary of attack despite Turkish-Russian agreement | website=Al-Monitor | date=19 September 2018 | url=https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2018/09/idlib-syrian-regime-turkey-russia-buffer-zone-agreement.html | access-date=8 May 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190508082603/https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2018/09/idlib-syrian-regime-turkey-russia-buffer-zone-agreement.html | archive-date=8 May 2019 | url-status=live }}</ref><br>[[Idlib]] (''de facto'' by the [[Syrian Salvation Government|SSG]]) <br> [[Al-Tanf (U.S. military base)|Al-Tanf Base]] (used by the [[Syrian Free Army]])

| largest_city battles = [[DamascusSyrian Civil War]]<br>[[Aleppo]] (until 8 December 2024)

*[[Rif Dimashq Governorate campaign]]

| established_event1 = Start of the [[Syrian revolution]]

**[[Rif Dimashq offensive (August–November 2014)]]<ref>[https://malcolmxtreme.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/soldiers-killed-by-rebels-in-jobar-9-29-2014.jpg Image] malcolmxtreme.files.wordpress.com {{better source|date=March 2024}}</ref>

| established_date1 = 15 March 2011

**[[Eastern Qalamoun offensive (September–October 2016)]]

| established_event2 = [[Syrian civil war]]

*[[Deir ez-Zor clashes (2011–14)]]

| established_date2 = 2011–2024

*[[Battle of Aleppo (2012-2016)]]

| established_event3 = [[Fall of the Assad regime]]

**[[Aleppo offensive (October–November 2016)]]

| established_date3 = 8 December 2024

*[[Siege of Northern Homs]]

| currency = [[Turkish lira]]<ref>{{cite news |last=Ashawi |first=Khalil |title=Falling lira hits Syrian enclave supported by Turkey |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-turkey-currency-idUSKCN1LD195 |publisher=[[Reuters]] |date=28 August 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Ghuraibi |first=Yousef |date=1 July 2020 |title=Residents of northwestern Syria replace Syrian pound with Turkish lira |url=https://english.enabbaladi.net/archives/2020/07/residents-of-northwestern-syria-replace-syrian-pound-with-turkish-lira/ |url-status=dead |work=Enab Baladi |___location=Idlib |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200705114336/https://english.enabbaladi.net/archives/2020/07/residents-of-northwestern-syria-replace-syrian-pound-with-turkish-lira/ |archive-date=5 July 2020 |access-date=28 January 2022}}</ref>

*[[Inter-rebel conflict during the Syrian Civil War]]

| currency_code = TRY

*[[2017 Hama offensive]]

| time_zone = [[Eastern European Time|EET]]

*[[Turkish involvement in the Syrian Civil War]]

| utc_offset = +3

**[[Operation Euphrates Shield]]

| utc_offset_DST =

**[[Turkish military operation in Afrin]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpmHh9ZJTVw|title = جبهة الأصالة والتنمية كتائب أهل الأثر جانب من مشاركتنا في عملية #غصن_الزيتون عفرين|website = [[YouTube]]}}</ref>

| time_zone_DST =

*[[Northwestern Syria offensive (April-August 2019)]]

| drives_on = right

| calling_code = [[Telephone numbers in Syria|+963]]

| iso3166code = SY

| cctld = [[.sy]]<br />[[سوريا.]]

| area_km2 =

| area_rank =

| GDP_PPP =

| GDP_PPP_year =

| HDI =

| HDI_year =

| p1 = Ba'athist Syria

| flag_p1 = Flag_of_Syria.svg

| s1 = Syrian transitional government

| flag_s1 = Flag of the Syrian Transitional Government (Shahada).svg

| today =

}}

{{Politics of Syrian Opposition}}

The '''Authenticity and Development Front''' ({{langx|ar|جبهة الأصالة والتنمية}}; ''Jabhat al-'asalah wa'l-tanmiyah'') is an alliance of rebel groups that is active during the [[Syrian Civil War]]. The alliance is considered to be moderate by Charles Lister (from [[Middle East Institute]])<ref name="Lister1">Charles Lister, [http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2015/11/yes-there-are-70000-moderate-opposition-fighters-in-syria-heres-what-we-know-about-them/ Yes, there are 70,000 moderate opposition fighters in Syria. Here’s what we know about them] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161024154718/http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2015/11/yes-there-are-70000-moderate-opposition-fighters-in-syria-heres-what-we-know-about-them/ |date=2016-10-24 }}, ''The Spectator'', 27 November 2015</ref> and the [[British Broadcasting Corporation|BBC]].<ref name="BBC">[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-24403003 Guide to the Syrian rebels], ''BBC'', 13 December 2013</ref>

The '''Syrian opposition''' ({{langx|ar|المعارضة السورية|al-Muʻaraḍat as-Sūrīya}}), also known as the '''Syrian revolutionaries''' ({{langx|ar|الثوار السوريين}}) is an umbrella term for the groups that opposed the [[Assad regime]] in [[Syria]]. In July 2011, at the beginning of the [[Syrian civil war]], defectors from the [[Syrian Arab Armed Forces]] formed the [[Free Syrian Army]], a name that was later used by several armed factions during the conflict. In November 2012, political groups operating from abroad formed the [[National Coalition of Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces|Syrian National Coalition]] (SNC). In turn, the Coalition formed the [[Syrian Interim Government]] (SIG) which operated first as a [[government-in-exile]] and, from 2015, in certain zones of Syria. In 2017, the [[Islamism|Islamist]] group [[Tahrir al-Sham]], unaffiliated to the SNC, formed the [[Syrian Salvation Government]] (SSG) in the areas it controlled. Rebel armed forces during the civil war have included the [[Turkey|Turkish]]-backed [[Syrian National Army]], affiliated to the SIG, the [[Southern Operations Room]] and the [[Revolutionary Commando Army]]. Other groups that challenged [[Bashar al-Assad]]'s rule during the civil war were the [[Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria]], and the [[Salafi jihadism|jihadist]] organization known as the [[Islamic State]].

The Syrian opposition evolved over time to include groups calling for the overthrow of the Assad government and opponents of its [[Ba'athist Syria|Ba'athist government]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/10338256|title=Bashar al-Assad: Facing down rebellion|date=2018-09-03|work=BBC News|access-date=2020-01-29|language=en-GB}}</ref> Prior to the war, "opposition" ({{langx|ar|المعارضة |al-muʕāraḍat}}) referred to traditional political actors such as the [[National Coordination Committee for Democratic Change]]; that is, groups and individuals with a history of dissidence against the Syrian state.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://carnegie-mec.org/2013/04/03/syrian-opposition-s-leadership-problem-pub-51373|title=The Syrian Opposition's Leadership Problem|last=Sayigh|first=Yezid|website=Carnegie Middle East Center|language=en|access-date=2020-01-29}}</ref>

The first opposition groups in the [[Civil uprising phase of the Syrian Civil War]] were local protest-organizing committees established in April 2011, as spontaneous protests became more planned and organized.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-13168276|title=Syria's spontaneously organised protests|last=Ghattas|first=Kim|date=2011-04-22|work=BBC News|access-date=2020-01-29|language=en-GB}}</ref> The uprising, from March 2011 until the start of August 2011, was characterized by a consensus for nonviolent struggle among the participants.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/how-syrian-revolution-became-militarized/|title=How the Syrian Revolution Became Militarized|last=Kouddous|first=Sharif Abdel|journal=The Nation|date=2012-08-23|access-date=2020-01-29|language=en-US|issn=0027-8378}}</ref> Thus the conflict could not have been yet characterized as a "civil war", until army units defected in response to government reprisals against the protest movement.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Asad's Armed Opposition: The Free Syrian Army|url=https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/view/asads-armed-opposition-the-free-syrian-army|access-date=2020-09-19|website=www.washingtoninstitute.org|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|date=2011-11-11|title=We Live as in War|url=https://www.hrw.org/report/2011/11/11/we-live-war/crackdown-protesters-governorate-homs-syria|access-date=2020-09-19|website=Human Rights Watch|language=en}}</ref> This occurred 2012, allowing the conflict to meet the definition of "civil war".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/event/Syrian-Civil-War|title=Syrian Civil War {{!}} Facts & Timeline|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en|access-date=2020-01-29}}</ref>

Opposition groups in Syria took a new turn in late 2011 during the [[Syrian civil war]], as they united to form the [[Syrian National Council]] (SNC),<ref>{{cite news|title=The main components of the Syrian opposition|publisher=[[BBC Arabic]]|___location=London|date=24 February 2012|url=https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=ar&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Farabic%2Fmiddleeast%2F2012%2F02%2F120224_syria_opposition_guide.shtml|access-date=1 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140224014334/http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=ar&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Farabic%2Fmiddleeast%2F2012%2F02%2F120224_syria_opposition_guide.shtml|archive-date=24 February 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> which has received significant [[Friends of Syria Group|international support]] and recognition as a [[International recognition of the Syrian National Council|partner for dialogue]]. The Syrian National Council was recognized or supported in some capacity by at least 17 [[member states of the United Nations]], with three of those (France, the United Kingdom, and the United States) being permanent members of the [[United Nations Security Council|Security Council]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thejournal.ie/eu-ministers-recognise-syrian-national-council-as-legitimate-representatives-367277-Feb2012/|author=thejournal.ie|date=27 February 2012|access-date=29 February 2012|title=EU ministers recognise Syrian National Council as legitimate representatives|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120229002630/http://www.thejournal.ie/eu-ministers-recognise-syrian-national-council-as-legitimate-representatives-367277-Feb2012/|archive-date=29 February 2012|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://euobserver.com/13/114380|author=Andrew Rettman|title=France recognises Syrian council, proposes military intervention|date=24 October 2011|access-date=24 November 2011|publisher=EUObserwer|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111126201454/http://euobserver.com/13/114380|archive-date=26 November 2011|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2011/12/06/world/meast/clinton-syrian-opposition/index.html|title=Clinton to Syrian opposition: Ousting al-Assad is only first step in transition|date=6 December 2011|publisher=CNN|access-date=2 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928162854/http://www.cnn.com/2011/12/06/world/meast/clinton-syrian-opposition/index.html|archive-date=28 September 2013|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/304308/20120224/syria-opposition-uk-friends.htm|title=UK Recognizes Syrian Opposition|date=24 February 2012|access-date=29 February 2012|work=International Business Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.khaleejtimes.com/displayarticle.asp?xfile=data/international/2011/October/international_October385.xml&section=international&col=|agency=Khaleej Times|date=11 October 2011|access-date=10 October 2011|title=Libya NTC says recognises Syrian National Council|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111011004321/http://www.khaleejtimes.com/displayarticle.asp?xfile=data%2Finternational%2F2011%2FOctober%2Finternational_October385.xml&section=international&col=|archive-date=11 October 2011|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.smh.com.au/world/libya-to-arm-rebels-in-syria-20111126-1o088.html |title=Libya to arm syrian rebels |date=27 November 2011 |agency=Sydney Morning Herald |access-date=8 August 2013 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130812110018/http://www.smh.com.au/world/libya-to-arm-rebels-in-syria-20111126-1o088.html |archive-date=12 August 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>

A broader opposition umbrella group, the [[National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces]], was formed in November 2012 and has gained recognition as the "legitimate representative of the Syrian people" by the [[Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf]] (CCASG) and as a "representative of aspirations of Syrian people" by the [[Arab League]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Syria's newly-formed opposition coalition draws mixed reaction|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-11/13/c_131970585.htm|access-date=25 January 2013|newspaper=Xinhua|date=13 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121116024459/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-11/13/c_131970585.htm|archive-date=16 November 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Syrian National Coalition was subsequently considered to take the seat of Syria in the Arab League, with the representative of [[Bashar al-Assad|Bashar Al-Assad's]] government suspended that year. The Syrian National Council, initially a part of the Syrian National Coalition, withdrew on 20 January 2014 in protest at the decision of the coalition to attend the [[Geneva II Middle East peace conference|Geneva talks]].<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/main-bloc-quits-syrian-national-coalition-over-geneva/|title=Main bloc quits Syrian National Coalition over Geneva|publisher=The Times of Israel|date=21 January 2014|access-date=20 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140122060756/http://www.timesofisrael.com/main-bloc-quits-syrian-national-coalition-over-geneva/|archive-date=22 January 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> Despite tensions, the Syrian National Council retained a degree of ties with the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces. Syrian opposition groups held reconciliation talks in Astana, Kazakhstan in October 2015.<ref name=opptalks>{{cite news|title=Syrian opposition sign joint document in Kazakhstan's Astana|url=http://en.tengrinews.kz/politics_sub/Syrian-opposition-sign-joint-document-in-Kazakhstans-Astana-262295/|publisher=Tengri News|access-date=7 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151010175216/http://en.tengrinews.kz/politics_sub/Syrian-opposition-sign-joint-document-in-Kazakhstans-Astana-262295/|archive-date=10 October 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> In late 2015, the [[Syrian Interim Government]] relocated its headquarters to the city of [[Azaz]] in North Syria and began to execute some authority in the area. In 2017, the opposition government in the [[Idlib Governorate]] was challenged by the rival [[Syrian Salvation Government]], backed by the Islamist faction [[Hayat Tahrir al-Sham]] (HTS).

A July 2015 ORB International poll of 1,365 adults across all of Syria's 14 [[Governorates of Syria|governorates]] found that about 26 percent of the population supported the Syrian opposition (41 percent in the areas it controlled), compared to 47 percent who supported the Syrian Arab Republic's government (73 percent in the areas it controlled), 35 percent who supported the [[Al-Nusra Front]] (58 percent in the areas it controlled), and 22 percent who supported the [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant|Islamic State]] (74 percent in the areas it controlled).<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20151124035227/http://www.opinion.co.uk/article.php?s=orbiiacss-poll-in-iraq-and-syria-gives-rare-insight-into-public-opinion "ORB/IIACSS POLL IN IRAQ AND SYRIA GIVES RARE INSIGHT INTO PUBLIC OPINION."] ORB International July 2015. [https://web.archive.org/web/20151001191959/http://www.opinion.co.uk/perch/resources/syriadata.pdf PDF link] (see tables 1 and 8).</ref> A March 2018 ORB International Poll with a similar method and sample size found that support had changed to 40% Syrian government, 40% Syrian opposition (in general), 15% [[Syrian Democratic Forces]], 10% al-Nusra Front, and 4% Islamic State (crossover may exist between supporters of factions).<ref>

[https://orb-international.com/2018/03/15/syria-public-opinion-snapshot-2018/ NEW ORB POLL: 52% SYRIANS BELIEVE ASSAD REGIME WILL WIN THE WAR] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191109151735/https://orb-international.com/2018/03/15/syria-public-opinion-snapshot-2018/ |date=9 November 2019 }}. ORB International. 15 March 2015.

</ref>

In late 2024, various Syrian opposition groups launched [[2024 Syrian opposition offensives|simultaneous offensives]] that led to the [[fall of the Assad regime]] and the establishment of a [[Syrian transitional government|transitional government]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-12-08 |title=Ousted Syrian leader Assad flees to Moscow after fall of Damascus, Russian state media say |url=https://apnews.com/article/syria-assad-sweida-daraa-homs-hts-qatar-816e538565d1ae47e016b5765b044d31 |access-date=2024-12-10 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=jcookson |date=2024-12-08 |title=Experts react: Rebels have toppled the Assad regime. What’s next for Syria, the Middle East, and the world? |url=https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atlanticist/experts-react/experts-react-rebels-have-toppled-the-assad-regime-whats-next-for-syria-the-middle-east-and-the-world/ |access-date=2024-12-10 |website=Atlantic Council |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-12-09 |title=HTS, overthrown Syrian PM task Mohammed al-Bashir with forming transitional government |url=https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-832684 |access-date=2024-12-10 |website=The Jerusalem Post {{!}} JPost.com |language=en}}</ref> On December 10, [[Mohammed al-Bashir]], previously head of the Syrian Salvation Government, became prime minister of the [[Syrian transitional government]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-12-10 |title=Syrian rebels name Mohammed al-Bashir head of transitional government |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/en/syria/article/2024/12/10/syria-rebels-name-mohammed-al-bashir-head-of-transitional-government_6735906_229.html |access-date=2024-12-10 |work=[[Le Monde]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-12-10 |title=Der Islamist im Anzug: Wer ist der syrische Übergangspremier Mohammed al-Bashir? |trans-title=The Islamist in a suit: who is the Syrian interim prime minister Mohammed al-Bashir? |url=https://www.diepresse.com/19162965/der-islamist-im-anzug-wer-ist-der-syrische-uebergangspremier-mohammed-al-bashir |access-date=2024-12-10 |website=[[Die Presse]] |language=de}}</ref>

==Background==